AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With Masters Week less than a month away, city officials say they have a plan to handle the flood of visitors heading to Augusta National — and some of the rules are changing this year.
Steve Cassell, a former traffic engineer for the City of Augusta who has managed Masters traffic operations for 13 years, presented the plan at a press conference on Wednesday.
Parking lot hours and access restrictions
City officials said parking lots will not open before 6 a.m. and will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic between midnight and 6 a.m. Deputies will be on-site to enforce no-stopping and no-standing rules.
“The days of I’ll pull in here at 5 o’clock in the morning — those days are over,” Cassell said.
Officials said if weather delays occur, lots will remain closed until conditions allow and directed the public to the City of Augusta website and the Masters website for updates.
Road closures and traffic flow
City officials said the eastbound on-ramp at Washington Road off I-20 will close at 7 a.m. each tournament day, a measure that has been in place for years.
The closure is designed to redirect traffic to Riverwatch Parkway and Alexander Drive to prevent congestion on Washington Road.
The plan is coordinated with the Georgia Department of Transportation, which oversees most of the state routes used during the tournament, as well as the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and North Augusta Public Safety.
Officials also reserve the right to temporarily close Alexander Drive if backups spill onto Riverwatch Parkway. Castle said that closure has been implemented at least once or twice per tournament in past years.
On Berckmans Road, left turns onto Washington Road will be prohibited during egress to improve outbound traffic flow. Cassell said the restriction allows three vehicles to clear the intersection for every one left-turning vehicle.
Cassell said an agreement with the railroad ensures trains will not operate during times that would significantly impact traffic flow near the course.
New elements for 2026
City officials said several changes are new for this year. Southgate will open in addition to Northgate for the first time during the Women’s Amateur, meaning a full Masters traffic plan will be in effect on Saturday — something Cassell described as atypical in past years.
A temporary traffic signal will also be installed at River Ridge, across from Gate A1, to manage pedestrian crossings on Washington Road.
Cassell said the signal is necessary during peak pedestrian periods to prevent foot traffic from spilling into travel lanes.
Ride-share and navigation guidance
A designated ride-share lot will be located at the southwest corner of Washington Road and Berckmans Road. Officials said the lot will be accessible through the Publix entrance only — not via a right turn from Washington Road — and that deputies will enforce against unauthorized drop-offs near the gates.
For navigation, Cassell said patrons should avoid entering “Augusta National” into mapping apps, which can route drivers down Magnolia Lane.
A QR code included on patron mailers links directly to a GPS coordinate at the center of the parking area and is compatible with Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze.
The same links are available through the Masters app under the patron info section.
Officials said traffic infrastructure changes, including lane shifts on Riverwatch Parkway and changeable message signs, will begin appearing the week before the tournament.
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