Friday Will be One of the Busiest Travel Days of the Year

Columbus Day is a public holiday in the U.S. that commemorates the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492. In Massachusetts, Columbus Day is also a perfect three-day holiday weekend for peak-leaf-peeping.

People from all over the world travel to New England to enjoy brilliant colors of the leaves.

MassDOT is advising highway travelers to plan ahead for one of the busiest days of the year on state highways: Friday, Oct. 9, ahead of the three-day Columbus Day weekend.

The Friday before Columbus Day in a typical recent year has been the busiest or second busiest day of the year on the Turnpike, according to the number of toll transactions. In 2014, Turnpike drivers logged 704,348 transactions. Traffic data last year showed traffic congestion on I-90 westbound in Newton peaked between 4pm and 7:30pm on that Friday.

Traffic congestion also can be expected on highways heading toward popular fall and leaf peeping destinations including Cape Cod, New Hampshire and Maine.

Travelers have access to real time roadside traffic information on sections of I-93, I-90, Route 3 south and Route 6 on Cape Cod through the GO Time system. To plan ahead, traffic information is available for download using the free RideWise Smartphone App that provides live traffic conditions. Please check MassDOT statewidelive traffic cameras before you travel.

Check the U.S Army Corps of Engineers reports for construction bridge alerts on the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.

Free coffee will be served at the 18 service plazas along Interstate-90 and other major state highways on Monday night, Oct. 12, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

To save time, money and gas, please join E-ZPass to avoid waiting in line at cash toll booths, state highway officials advise.

The MBTA will operate on a weekday schedule on Monday, October 12. Check mbta.com for details.

MassRMV branch offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 12. The Registry reminds motorists to “Skip the Line, Go Online” and visit www.massrmv.com to begin or complete many license and registration transactions.

Information: MassDOT