If you’re hitting the roads, rails or skies this Thanksgiving holiday, you know the drill: There will be traffic. Many. AAA’s annual Thanksgiving travel forecast predicts 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. Autoclub said that this is 98% of pre-pandemic volumes. As with last year, the majority of projected travelers are expected to drive to their Thanksgiving destinations, AAA said. Traffic on Massachusetts highways is expected to peak the day before the holiday. AAA’s predicted peak traffic times: Interstate 93 southbound: Traffic volume between exit 20 (I-90 interchange) is expected to be 76 percent greater than normal on non-holiday days. ) and exit 4 (Route 24 interchange) Interstate 93 northbound: Between exit 17 (Government Center) and exit 25 (route 28 interchange), traffic volume is expected to increase by 53 percent. Interstate 95 Southbound: Traffic volumes are expected to be 30 percent higher between Exit 36 (Route 9) and Exit 21 (Coney Street). Interstate 90 Westbound: Exit 131 (Brighton, Cambridge) to Exit 95 between (Route 122 Junction) Route No. 3: Northbound traffic volume is expected to be 26 percent higher. Expected to be 19 percent higher between exits 36 (Derby Street) and 20 (I-93). AAA also predicted that air travel will increase 8 percent over last year, with 4.5 million Americans flying to Thanksgiving destinations. Another 1.4 million people will travel by bus, train or ship. MassDOT calendar of best, worst travel times The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is making changes to ease traffic headaches during Thanksgiving week. The existing HOV lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will be extended. open for lunch on Tuesdays from 2pm to 7pm and on Wednesdays from 1pm to 7pm. The HOV lane will be closed Thursday and Friday. Due to increased traffic in and out of Logan Airport, the HOV and Sumner Tunnel swing lanes will not be deployed Thursday or Friday. The Sumner Tunnel will be open the weekends of Nov. 18-20 and Nov. 25-27, MassDOT said. There will be no planned construction work on major highways outside the designated work zones between 5am on Tuesday and 9pm on Monday 28 November. and the weekend after Thanksgiving.MassDOT said drivers can call 511 from a landline or cell phone to hear information about current conditions on major roads. all other MBTA routes will operate on a Sunday schedule. Logan Airport Travelers: For people flying out of Logan Airport, they are asked to arrive early and be patient. “The busiest travel days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and of course the Sunday after Thanksgiving is always our busiest day of the year,” said Dan Velez, TSA spokesman for New England. Check Logan flight statuses. TSA expects to screen about 65,000 passengers on peak travel days and advises people to arrive in Logan two hours early.Video: Flying from Logan? Gather Extra Time and PatienceVideo: The Worst and Best Times to Travel This ThanksgivingVideo: AAA Says Thanksgiving Travelers Will Have More Company on Mass RoadsVideo: Over 43% of American Adults Plan Holiday Season Travel
If you’re hitting the roads, rails or skies this Thanksgiving holiday, you know the drill: There will be traffic. Many.
AAA’s annual Thanksgiving travel forecast predicts 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. Autoclub said that this is 98% of pre-pandemic volumes.
Like last year, most of the projected travelers are expected to go to Thanksgiving destinations, AAA said. Traffic on Massachusetts highways is expected to peak the day before the holiday.
Here’s what AAA predicts peak traffic:
- Interstate 93 southbound: Traffic volume between Exit 20 (I-90 interchange) and Exit 4 (Route 24 interchange) is expected to be 76 percent greater than a normal non-holiday weekday.
- Interstate 93 northbound: Between Exit 17 (Government Center) and Exit 25 (Route 28 interchange), traffic volume is expected to increase by 53 percent.
- Interstate 95 southbound: Between Exit 36 (Route 9) and Exit 21 (Coney Street), traffic volumes are expected to increase by 30 percent.
- Interstate 90 westbound: Between exit 131 (Brighton, Cambridge) and exit 95 (Route 122 Interchange), traffic volumes are expected to increase by 26 percent.
- Route 3 northbound: Between exit 36 (Derby Street) and exit 20 (I-93), traffic volumes are expected to increase by 19 percent.
AAA also predicted that air travel will increase 8% over last year, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destinations. Another 1.4 million people will travel by bus, train or ship.
MassDOT calendar of best, worst travel times
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is making changes to ease traffic headaches during Thanksgiving week.
- The HOV lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will have extended noon hours, opening on Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 1 to 7 p.m.
- The HOV lane will be closed Thursday and Friday.
- Due to increased traffic in and out of Logan Airport, the HOV and Sumner Tunnel swing lanes will not be deployed on Thursday or Friday.
- The Summer Tunnel will be open on the weekends of November 18-20 and November 25-27.
- MassDOT said there will be no scheduled construction on major arterial roads outside the designated work zones between 5 a.m. Tuesday and 9 p.m. Nov. 28.
- Additional Silver Line 1 service to Logan Airport will be added before, the weekend after Thanksgiving and the weekend after.
- MassDOT said drivers can call 511 from a landline or mobile phone to listen to information about current conditions on major roads
There is no ferry service on Thanksgiving Day, and all Commuter Rail lines will operate on a weekend schedule, and all other MBTA modes will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Travelers to Logan Airport:
For flying people Logan Airport, They are requested to come early and be patient.
“The busiest travel days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and of course the Sunday after Thanksgiving is always the busiest day of the year,” said Dan Velez, TSA spokesman for New England.
Check Logan flight statuses
The TSA expects to screen about 65,000 passengers on the busiest travel days and advises people to arrive in Logan two hours early.
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