Heavy traffic slowed motorists along Washington Road near Gate 4 of the Augusta National Golf Club on Monday afternoon. ANNETTE M. DROWLETTE/SPECIAL

The busiest time on Washington Road is in the mornings between 7 and 11 when people are heading to the Augusta National, said Jim Huffstetler, the county traffic engineer.

On Monday, traffic reached a peak about 9 a.m. and backed up on River Watch Parkway at Alexander Drive and on Washington Road.

``It was backed up all over, which it normally is during the Masters, but it seemed like it was heavier than it was last year at this time,'' Richmond County Sheriff's Office Maj. Richard Weaver said.

A minor collision on golf property was the only wreck reported in the morning crush. And a car parked illegally along Berckmans Road, near Gate 6 of Augusta National, was towed, Lt. Jimmy Wylds said.

Between 3 and 7 p.m. each day, traffic picks up again along the road, Mr. Huffstetler said.

He warned motorists that anything could happen to clog up the road within minutes.

``If there's a thundershower or something and they close the course, it gets messy really quick,'' he said.

Avoiding the road altogether is the best advice traffic officials had for motorists looking for ways around the congestion.

River Watch Parkway, which runs parallel to Washington Road, provides a good detour around the chaos, said Teresa Smith, public works director for the county.

``The opening of River Watch and the extension of Bobby Jones have provided major alternative routes for people who are not centrally involved in the Masters activities,'' Ms. Smith said.

Mr. Huffstetler advised visitors trying to get around in Augusta to take notes from residents who deal with the traffic tie-ups every April.

``The local people are astute enough to use alternate routes such as River Watch or Walton Way,'' Mr. Huffstetler said. ``Probably some go around what I call the back way - they use Wrightsboro, Gordon Highway, Deans Bridge - those other roads to get into town instead of coming down Washington Road.''

But not everyone is looking for ways to avoid the madness. Instead, there are thousands of golf fans trying to find ways to drive into it the middle of it.

``We don't want to completely shut (Washington) Road down,'' Mr. Huffstetler said. ``The purpose of us being out there is to make it better for the whole week - to try to keep the traffic moving so you can still use it.''

To do this, local traffic engineers and the Georgia Department of Transportation set up the state's Intelligent Transportation System for the week. The NAVIGATOR system uses a network of tools to minimize congestion.

From a command center, traffic engineers can keep an eye on traffic flow and adjust the timing of stoplights to keep cars moving, Mr. Huffstetler said.

Changeable message signs along Interstate 20 that alert motorists to expected traveling time between exits and a helicopter equipped with video cameras help supply updated information about traffic conditions, he said.

Mr. Huffstetler said this technology, along with lessons learned from previous Masters Weeks, will help keep traffic headaches to a minimum.

``One of our more important goals is to keep I-20 from getting blocked at that off ramp to Washington Road,'' he said.

In the past, he said, cars from the Washington Road exit would back up all the way to Bobby Jones Expressway - a few miles away.

``When you have cars sitting there parked, and a car cruising by at 55 miles per hour, it's not safe,'' he said. ``What we want to do is reduce congestion and increase safety.''

Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (706) 823-3227.