Todd Shaulis of the Summit Diner hopes with July 4th falling on Saturday and many people off work Friday, more travelers will be lured to the road.
“With the Thunder in the Valley we had very good business. We’re hoping to kick butt again this weekend,” Shaulis said from the diner on North Center Street in Somerset.
Travel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was down by 5 percent earlier this year, but Carl DeFebo, spokesman for the toll road, thinks Shaulis’ wish may come true.
“Traffic has been starting to pick up this summer. We think it will be similar to what we see for a Memorial Day weekend,” DeFebo said. “We’re expecting pretty heavy volumes.”
Volume on the turnpike is expected to reach nearly 2 million vehicles between Friday and Monday.
Travel nationwide was down last year because of gas prices, which averaged more than $4 a gallon.
This year, a gallon of gasoline is averaging $2.65, though that number was below $2 during the winter.
AAA predicts a slight decline in travel due to the recession and gas prices.
Motorists driving 50 or more miles nationwide this weekend are expected to drop by 1.9 percent compared to last year, said Ted Leonard, Pennsylvania AAA Federation spokesman.
“There are two reasons: The uncertainty about the strength of the economy and the recent rapid increase in gasoline prices,” Leonard said Wednesday.
Signs of the weak economy are evident on the turnpike, where commercial traffic continues to sag, DeFebo said.
In January, overall traffic on the pike was down 5 percent from the previous year. A breakdown shows commercial traffic off by 10 percent during that period.
While volume has gradually grown since the first of the year, there’s been little increase in commercial vehicles, DeFebo said.
“We’re still not seeing the volumes. That’s going to take a lot longer to rebound. We expect it to take a year or more. It’s bad,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts are in place to help ease the trip for travelers on the toll road.
Orders went out that all construction had to be halted by 3 p.m. Wednesday and not resume until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
DeFebo said that while barriers will still be visible, all lanes are open for traffic.
Maintenance work also will cease on the turnpike during the long weekend, he said.
Travelers should expect to see increased numbers of local and state police this weekend as part of an emphasis on safety.
Advice from the Pennsylvania State Police is to allow plenty of time, slow down, don’t drink and drive, and buckle up, a step that may have saved lives last year.
Figures show there were more than 750 crashes that resulted in 15 people being killed statewide during last year’s July 4th holiday, said Capt. Timothy Mercer of Troop G in Hollidaysburg.
PennDOT reported a higher Fourth of July 2008 death rate, with accidents from all police agencies counted.
Spokesman Allison Wenger said there were 34 fatalities during last year’s three-day weekend.
This weekend also will be a national drunken-driving enforcement initiative with more police looking for impaired drivers.
Police will be looking for impaired drivers hauling boats to or from waterways, and an emphasis will be on impaired motorcyclists, she said.
Construction on state highways will be minimized, but barriers and lane restrictions will still be in place in many areas, PennDOT officials said.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Motorists enter the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset on Wednesday, either heading west toward Pittsburgh or east toward Harrisburg. Dave Lloyd
Discussion
Gas, economy affect travel
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
