Memorial Day Weekend Traffic To Peak Friday On PA Turnpike: Officials

PENNSYLVANIA — With Memorial Day Weekend nearly here and thousands of Pennsylvanians planning to travel for the unofficial start of summer, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is giving drivers insight as to how much traffic they could face.

During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, from May 23 through May 27, the commission projects 2.9 million drivers will head to their holiday destination via the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

That projected figure represents a 1.5 percent increase from the same period last year.

Below is a forecasted traffic breakdown for the five-day period:

Traffic figures include passenger cars and trucks

• Thursday — 680,000
• Friday — 710,000
• Saturday — 540,000
• Sunday — 480,000
• Monday — 490,000

While travelers may be excited to get away for the long weekend, the commission emphasized that drivers be courteous on the road to help them focus on getting to their destinations safely.

Pennsylvania State Police Troop T — which covers Gibsonia, Jefferson Hills, New Stanton, Somerset and Everett, Newville, Bowmansville, King of Prussia, Pocono, and Highspire Stations — will have increased patrols over the holiday weekend to respond to incidents as they unfold, ensure motorists are practicing proper driving habits and take action against illegal or unsafe behaviors such as speeding, aggressive and distracted driving.

Additionally, drivers will find an increased number of GEICO Safety Patrol safety teams throughout the roadway that are there to respond to travelers in need of assistance.

All roadway construction and maintenance projects will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday and ending 11 p.m. Monday to ensure as many lanes are open as possible.

Travelers heading west Sunday should note traffic could be slower in the Somerset to New Stanton corridor from 3 to 5 p.m. as the Run for the Wall veteran’s organization is hosting a vehicle motorcade that will traverse the Turnpike.

To report an accident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike, dial *11.