ATLANTA — Thursday evening, multiple headlining events being held in Atlanta are set to make for an extremely messy commute for drivers.
The first debate of the 2024 presidential election between Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump is taking place in Midtown at CNN's studio. Meanwhile, just a mere miles away, soccer fans are expected to pack Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 6 p.m. for a match between the U.S. men's soccer team and Panama for the Copa América tournament. The return of afternoon and evening pop up storms is also expected to add another challenge for drivers.
The dueling events, which include presidential motorcades, are expected to snarl traffic for drivers and anyone looking to move around the city Thursday as road closures take effect.
11Alive is monitoring the real-time traffic conditions. Check the map below or 11alive.com/traffic for more real-time traffic information.
Traffic conditions for metro Atlanta
Avoiding traffic in Atlanta
11Alive's Traffic Expert, Crash Clark, said planning will be key to keeping out of traffic on Thursday.
"It’s going to be a nightmare, both sides of the connector, especially once they start shutting it down and staging Georgia State Patrol," Clark said.
To avoid this, Crash said to avoid Interstate 75 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., given Biden's arrival at the Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Trump arrives at 5:30 p.m. at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, meaning drivers should also be clear of that area from then to 6:30 p.m.
"You actually have to time yourself in and around all this traffic," Crash said.
More specifically, Biden is set to arrive around 3 p.m. at the Marietta Reserve Base, which means drivers can expect a rolling roadblock down I-75: Georgia State Patrol will completely shut down South Loop, Delk Road, Windy Hill, and others.
"Expect major delays along I-75. Highway 41 is going to be your alternate route, but even Highway 41 near Dobbins shut down," Crash said.
Regarding Trump, the closures are expected to make their way up the connector.
"Shutting down everything," Clark said. "Every entrance, every exit."
Copa América traffic details
The Copa America tournament will be held not far from the presidential debate. MARTA said to use its rail and bus services to avoid the traffic.
Doors open at 4 p.m., and the game starts at 6 p.m.
"Folks that are on their way to the Copa America, you’re the ones that have to make your plan," said Clark. "That plan is definitely going to be MARTA."
The transportation service said there would be increased rail service, plus peak traffic times would also be peak service times.
"You're going to have more trains coming, so it'll be easier for customers to take it to the match," said Payson Schwin with MARTA.
Schwin suggested people download the MARTA on the go app to check train schedules.