Roads are expected to be busier than this same time last year, as millions are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to reporting by AAA.
AAA is predicting the highest single-year increase in Thanksgiving travel since 2005, with nearly 2.2 million Ohioans traveling between Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. Nearly 90% of those travelers will be driving to their destinations, creating congested roadways, especially Wednesday and Sunday afternoon and evening.
During this busy holiday travel period, the Ohio Department of Transportation will suspend roadwork and open as many lanes as possible. However,drivers could encounter delays in work zones on I-75 in Toledo, Dayton, and Cincinnati, I-70 in Springfield and Zanesville, I-70/71 in Downtown Columbus, and I-76 and I-77 in Akron. A map of all active work zones, updated traffic conditions, and nearly 1,000 live traffic cameras is available at ODT’s ohgo.com platform.
Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday reporting period, there were 11 fatal crashes that killed 11 people on Ohio’s roadways, five of which were the result of impaired driving, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
AAA reminds drivers to pay extra attention while driving through work zones and allow additional time to reach their destinations.
For more information, visit transportation.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odot.