Teri Pope with the Georgia Department of Transportation said that as of 11:35 this morning, new lanes on Dawsonville Highway north of Gainesville have been opened.

New lanes have opened on Ga. 53 from Sidney Drive to Manor Ridge Drive, making that portion of the road four lanes. The new traffic signal at Lyncliff Drive was activated around 2:30 p.m., minutes after the repositioned light at Sardis Road was turned back on.

Before then, law enforcement had been directing people through the intersection until the light was turned on.

Pope cautioned people to still drive carefully through the area, because the opening of the two new lanes changed the highway a great deal.

The 3.23-mile project has cost $29.5 million. A westbound section between Sidney Drive and the Jerry Jackson bridge will not open today, as work has yet to be completed.