MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is expecting approximately 2.9 million vehicles on its roadway during the busy Memorial Day weekend, and on Tuesday reminded travelers to be safe on the highways.
The Turnpike said the projected total of 2.9 million vehicles over the five-day Memorial Day holiday weekend travel period is a 1.5% increase from last year.
An estimated 680,000 passenger vehicles and trucks are expected to use the Turnpike on Thursday, 710,000 on Friday, 540,000 on Saturday, 480,000 on Sunday and 490,000 on Monday, according to the Turnpike Commission's projections.
"While travelers may be excited to get away for the long weekend, the PA Turnpike emphasizes that drivers be courteous on the road to help them focus on getting to their destinations safely," the Turnpike Commission said.
Pennsylvania State Police Troop T will have increased patrols over the holiday weekend to respond to incidents as they unfold, ensure motorists are practicing proper driving habits and take action against illegal or unsafe behaviors such as speeding, aggressive and distracted driving, the PA Turnpike said.
The PA Turnpike will have an increased number of GEICO Safety Patrol safety teams throughout the roadway that are there to respond to travelers in need of assistance.
All roadway construction and maintenance projects will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday until 11 p.m. on Monday to ensure that as many lanes remain open as possible, the Turnpike said.
Those heading west Sunday should note traffic could be slower in the Somerset to New Stanton corridor from 3 to 5 p.m. as the Run for the Wall veteran’s organization is hosting a vehicle motorcade that will traverse the Turnpike. More than 300 motorcyclists traveling from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and the Flight 93 National Memorial, Somerset County, will travel west from the Somerset Interchange, exit 110, starting at approximately 3:25 p.m. Sunday.
The motorcade is planning a fueling stop at the New Stanton Service Plaza, milepost 77, around 3:55 p.m. before exiting at the New Stanton Interchange, exit 75, and continuing onto Interstate 70 toward their final destination at the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Illinois.
While traveling through an active work zone this summer, motorists may see speed limit enforcement signs, the Turnpike said. This is part of the statewide Work Zone Speed Safety Camera (WZSSC) program, which the Pennsylvania Legislature recently made permanent as part of the state’s commitment to public safety.
In work zones with a WZSSC vehicle, electronic speed timing devices detect and record vehicles exceeding work zone posted speed limits by 11 mph or more. Violators receive a warning on a first offense and fines for any following offenses.
During the five-year pilot program, there was a 38% reduction in speeding in work zones (1 mph or more over the speed limit), a 47% reduction in excessive speeding in work zones (11 mph or more over the speed limit), and work zone crashes declined by up to 50% when a speed enforcement vehicle was present.
In addition to planning your trip for off-peak hours, visit Ramp up for Seasonal Travel | PA Turnpike for tips to prepare for traveling on the PA Turnpike as well as understanding the services and amenities along the way.