Extended holidays mean more traffic on the PA Turnpike

It’s the season for holiday travel, and with it comes holiday season traffic. With the holiday extended this year as Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sundays, the PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) is forecasting a very busy holiday period of 5.4 million people traveling on the Turnpike from Friday, December 23 through Monday. I’m here. Jan. 2. “Increased traffic, increased incidence of distracted driving, and changing weather conditions are a very detrimental combination that can wreak havoc on your holiday,” said PA Turnpike. CEO Mark Compton said, “We want every traveler to arrive safely at their vacation destination. Planning and focus will ensure that it does. Travelers are advised to be prepared by checking real-time traffic and road conditions online and allowing plenty of time to arrive safely. It’s also important to note that it diverts the driver’s attention away from the roadway, reducing the driver’s reaction time and increasing the risk of a collision.Put your phone down and pay attention to the road ahead. Drivers can check road conditions, including color-coded winter conditions, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA also allows drivers to set personalized trip alerts for specific roads, days of the week and times of the day. Select your area and see traffic speeds color coded by he hour to determine the best time to travel. Here are the daily traffic forecasts for the holiday season: Saturday 24 December – Sunday 24 December 25 – 320,000 Monday 26 December – 530,000 Tuesday 27 December – 550,000 Wednesday 28 December – 550,000 Thursday 29 December – 570,000 December 30 Sunday 1st December – 600,000 Saturday 31st December – 410,000 Sunday 1st January – 350,000 Monday 2nd January – 450,000 All road construction work suspended during the holiday week and additional safety and police personnel out on the road to assist customers.