The road to one of the two first-ever College Football Playoff games is slated to be sugar-coated for Alabama fans.

According to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), Interstate 59 South and Interstate 20 West — the most common path to New Orleans — will be unencumbered on New Year’s Day when Alabama faces off against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

“We try and limit road construction during holidays,” Haley Ansley, a public information officer at ALDOT, said.

Ansley added that she was not anticipating expected or large-scale lane closures, but the department’s website offers real-time road condition updates for the convenience of travelers.

“Most of all we encourage travelers to buckle up and obey the speed limit,” she said.

Michael Flood at the Mississippi Department of Transportation said his department was “anticipating normal traffic flow.”

“There should be no congestion or major closures,” he said. “Everything should be passable.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development offered more of the same good news.

“As far as I know, there is nothing unusual or major — nothing stands out in my mind,” Bambi Hall, a public information officer, said. “We’re certainly expecting a large crowd, though.”

Alongside the favorable traffic conditions, the weather forecast for those leaving Cullman on Thursday is absent of rain or other harsh conditions. After fans finally arrive in New Orleans, the forecast expected to be equally dry.

Gas prices have also simmered down just in time for the approximately 400 mile trip from Cullman to New Orleans.

Gas has been seen as low as $2.09 in Cullman, $1.99 in Birmingham and $1.94 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s statewide average is $2.14.

The next two states offer even cheaper fuel prices.

Mississippi’s statewide average is $2.08, while Louisiana’s is $2.10. For those filling up in New Orleans for the return trip, gas has been seen as low as $1.73 in The Big Easy.

The kickoff of the Alabama-Ohio State semi-final playoff game is 7:30 p.m. CDT. If Alabama proves victorious, it will move forward to face the winner of the Oregon-Florida State semi-final game in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Zach Winslett may be contacted at zwinslett@cullmantimes.com or (256) 734-2131, ext. 137.