Friday, the Georgia Department of Transportation unveiled proposals to reduce truck accidents and truck volumes in Atlanta during rush hours.

The strategies include marking specific lanes for specific usage, improving major interstate interchanges, and asking truckers to voluntarily stay off the roads during peak traffic hours.
The plan was developed after several recent traffic jams caused by truck crashes during rush hour, including a fiery Aug. 31 accident on I-285 that caused delays of more than two hours.
To help reduce truck rollover accidents, the proposal would re-engineer interchanges at I-20 at I-285 in DeKalb County on the east perimeter, I-20 at I-285 on Atlanta's west side, in Fulton; and I-75 and I-285 in south Atlanta. The angle at which the road is banked would be changed, along with wider shoulders and better signs and pavement markings.
These improvements would take a year and a half and cost $4.5 million. A follow-up project would totally rebuild the two interchanges of I-285 and I-20, taking eight years and costing $160 million.
There also is a plan to install electronic message boards at weight stations near Atlanta advising truckers about major delays and asking them not to enter the city during peak rush hours. It also would add parking spaces at the weigh stations and rest areas to help solve the overnight parking shortage.
The DOT worked with the Georgia Motor Trucking Assn., the American Trucking Assns. and the Federal Highway Administration to develop these proposals.