PORTLAND — The Maine Turnpike Authority is reminding motorists about the heavy traffic expected over the holiday weekend.
More than 615,000 vehicles are anticipated to travel the Maine Turnpike through today, the MTA said in a press release Friday, a 1.25 percent growth over last year’s Independence Day travel alone.
“With the 4th falling on a Tuesday, it changes the flow of outgoing traffic,” MTA spokeswoman, Erin Courtney, said Friday. “While we expect northbound traffic to be heavy Friday and Saturday, when people leave will vary.”
Courtney said it’s expected some vacationers will go home Monday, some will leave Tuesday, and others will take off the whole week for the holiday and head south next weekend.
Traffic today is expected to be heaviest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The higher-than-average numbers aren’t a fluke. From January to May of this year, the turnpike has seen a 2.4 percent growth in traffic over the same period in 2016.
“With heavy traffic expected on the road, the MTA is urging motorists to be aware of peak times, plan accordingly, and drive safely over the long holiday weekend,” the agency said.
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