Presidential debate in Atlanta | Impact on traffic

ATLANTA — Thursday’s presidential debate is already affecting transit riders in Midtown, and the most significant impact will occur on Thursday.

Police are preparing to divert traffic around CNN studios and the Georgia Tech campus as Atlanta prepares for the arrival of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Some parking spaces are already prohibited at Tech.

“They informed us yesterday that the parking lot was closed and the street was closed,” said student Mario Zorrilla. “They let us know in advance so we can work around it.”

In addition to debate, there will be a swimming competition at Tech’s Campus Recreation Center while the United States and Panama compete in the Copa America soccer tournament at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Throughout Thursday, a half-mile stretch of 10th Street, from Spring Street to State Street, as well as a section of Fowler Street, will be closed.

It’s technology student Samuel Jlowacki’s first taste of American politics. Here from France, he offers a two-wheeled solution to traffic problems.

“I don’t drive,” Jlowacki said while sitting on his bike. “So it will be better without a car, but for motorists it will be a problem. »

Count on this being a problem on the Downtown Connector as the hours progress to Thursday night’s debate. More than once, Atlanta traffic felt the sting of a presidential motorcade and the security measures surrounding it. This time, traffic will be impacted by the movement of a current president and a former president to the same location.

Rolling roadblocks that temporarily close interstate on-ramps and keep traffic away from the presidential limousine are a typical security measure.

You don’t have to be president to paralyze traffic. In 2012, a visit from vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan did to the downtown roadway what only a snowstorm usually can.