It’s our nation’s 243^rd birthday. More than six million motorists are gearing up to take advantage of the extended holiday and are expected to travel the PA Turnpike beginning this Friday, June 28 through Sunday, July 7. This is a 3.5 percent increase over last year’s numbers.

Overall, summer is the busiest season for the PA Turnpike with many motorists traveling the roadway for the first time. A new site has been created to assist all motorists with tools and tips for traveling on the PA Turnpike. Visit PATurnpike.com and click on Ramp Up for Summer Travel.

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“With record numbers of motorists hitting the road for the Independence Day holiday, travelers should be properly prepared, plan ahead and expect slower going due to increased traffic,” said Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Friday afternoons are likely to be peak travel times with many travelers starting out well in advance of the holiday or taking longer trips because the holiday falls on a Thursday.”

The significant daily traffic breakdown is as follows:

•          June 28 — 50,000 vehicles are expected to travel the system;

•          July 3 — 725,000 vehicles are expected to travel the system;

•          July 2 — 655,000 vehicles are expected to travel the system; and

•          July 1 and July 5 — 625,000 vehicles are expected to travel the system. 

The less travelled days this holiday will be June 29, June 30, July 4, 6 and 7.

To help accommodate heavier holiday traffic, the Turnpike will suspend maintenance and construction work and have all available lanes open in each direction beginning 5 a.m. on Friday, June 28 through 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.

Also, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3 the Turnpike’s Lost Workers Memorial will be on display at the Sideling Hill Service Plaza, in Fulton County, as part of a Go Orange Safety Break. The memorial serves to honor those whose lives have been lost working along the roadway and reminds motorists to slow down.

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