ATLANTA, GA -- In the week following the fire and collapse of a bridge along Interstate 85 in midtown Atlanta, Georgia motorists have taken advantage of a variety of commuting options available at their fingertips.

With the end of spring break for several metro Atlanta school districts, state officials are hoping residents continue with that trend in an effort to keep traffic congestion as minimal as possible. Starting Monday, April 10, traffic volume in the area is expected to increase by as much as 20 percent, the Georgia DOT said Friday. With this information in mind, Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed are joining GDOT to urge residents and businesses to explore ways they can work "differently," the state DOT notes.

"Georgia is an international business center, home to Fortune 500 companies and some of the most innovative and forward-thinking organizations in the world," said Gov. Deal. "The challenge posed by the closure of I-85 is one we can overcome if we all plan ahead and take advantage of the options available."

According to Georgia DOT, the expected increase in traffic volume next week has the potential to increase average travel times by at least 30 percent throughout metro Atlanta, drastically lowering the average speed on area roads due to increased congestion.

Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry advised employers that allowing telecommuting is the best way to keep cars off of the roads. He also encouraged businesses to consider allowing employees to alter their work schedules to avoid travel during the most congested times of day, 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. "Both telecommuting and staggered work schedules help remove single-occupant vehicles from roadways during peak times, which contributes to our goal of reducing congestion as much as possible," McMurry added. "If we all work together, we can all get where we need to go in a relatively reasonable time frame."

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"We need to remember how we handled the Centennial Olympic Games – the closest comparison we have to what we're facing over the next several weeks," said Mayor Reed. "During those two weeks, every employer, community and individual adjusted their behaviors. We should take the same approach in response to the Interstate 85 collapse, by taking advantage of telecommuting, MARTA, and ride-share options like Uber, uberPOOL and Lyft. Atlantans know how to persevere. We can pull together, help each other through the next several weeks, and demonstrate to the world that Atlanta is resilient, nimble, and undeterred." Georgia DOT is offering resources to help motorists plan their commutes: