Traffic patterns into and out of Augusta National Golf Club will change this year as several new parking lots open near Berckmans Road in time for the Masters Tournament.

Gate 6A will be the new walk-in entrance; vehicle traffic on Berckmans Road will be kept to a minimum during Masters Week. (Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff)

In the past two years, Augusta National has added more than 6,000 parking spaces in the area across from the course. These spots will replace Lot 1, which is on the grounds of Augusta National and formerly accessible from Washington Road. The parking area will now be available only to members, players, service vehicles and media, Richmond County Traffic Engineer Steve Cassell said at a news conference Wednesday.

"Essentially 90 percent of it is the same as last year," Mr. Cassell said. "But there are some changes in regard to pedestrian access."

All patrons will be funneled to a staging area near Heath Drive and Berckmans Road and will enter the course at Gate 6A. Those walking from the Washington Road area will now have to walk down Berckmans Road to the staging area to get inside, he said.

Also new this year, drivers will be able to access the parking lots by way of a new road behind the Publix shopping center on Washington Road. Drivers traveling toward Augusta National from Interstate 20 will have two opportunities to turn right into the parking areas. Once at the new Publix road and again at Stanley Drive, Mr. Cassell said. Those coming from Calhoun Expressway and downtown Augusta will make a left turn at Gate A3. Berckmans Road will remain open to traffic, but officials discourage its use to make the pedestrian crossing at Gate 6A move as swiftly as possible.

"At the end of the day, we have a large volume of traffic," Mr. Cassell said. "The goal is to keep it moving."

Crews will be reopening the Washington Road on-ramp to I-20, which has been closed by construction, from 2 to 9 p.m. throughout the week.

Click here for a detailed PDF describing the changes and the new routes to Augusta National.

Click here for a larger PDF map showing the locations of specific lots and handicapped parking at Augusta National.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.