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BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - With Thanksgiving just a week away, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is encouraging those of us traveling to plan ahead for the expected travel rush the week of Thanksgiving.
"It'll be the first time in three or four years now, that we've hit those levels." state Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said.
So when will be the best time to hit the road? Thanksgiving road congestion is expected to get underway Today, Thursday Nov. 17, a week before the holiday. Travel through out the rest of the week will be heavier than usual, with it ramping up over the weekend. Early next week we'll see another increase of heavy traffic on both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. The Sunday after Thanksgiving will be "by far' the worst congestion of the week, as people head home.
The Department of Transportation released this calendar showing when to expect major delays on major highways between the Monday and Sunday bookending Thanksgiving.
MassDOT said there are a number of technology tools and resources to make informed decisions when it comes to getting away for the holiday.
When it comes to the roads, despite high gas prices, AAA predicts some 49 million people will hit the roads. The HOV will have extended hours on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Wednesday, Nov. 23. The HOV and Sumner Tunnel swing lane will not be deployed Thursday, Nov. 24 or Friday, Nov. 25.
There will be no scheduled construction work on any major arterial roadways outside of established work zones between 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22 through 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28.
What's more to help with all that airport traffic, the Sumner Tunnel will be open this weekend, Nov. 18-20 and next weekend Nov. 25-27. According to AAA, airlines have hired more staff and have already made adjustments to schedules to take on the surge in passengers.
With all the extra traffic comes the extra passenger load departing and arriving at Logan airport, Massport is encouraging those traveling to give themselves extra time traveling to the airport. Passengers should arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights. Always check your flight status before leaving home.
Massport has also launched a free smartphone app FlyLogan, where passengers can access information about the airport, flight status, purchase Logan Express tickets, and order concessions for pickup or delivery within Logan.
In an effort to help those traveling to and from the airport, additional Silver Line 1 (SL1) service to and from Logan Airport will be added the weekend before and the weekend after Thanksgiving.
There will be no ferry service on Thanksgiving day and all Commuter Rail lines will be operating on a weekend schedule, all other modes will operate on a Sunday schedule.
For information about MBTA schedules on Thursday, November 24, please visit the MBTA website.
WBZ's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports
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