OAK HILL, WEST VIRGINIA (WOAY) – This is expected to be one of the busiest travel weeks for the Thanksgiving holiday. The American Automobile Association estimates that over 55 million people will be on the road.
In West Virginia, the Parkways Authority expects traffic on the turnpike to be heaviest on Wednesday and Sunday.
They expect at least seven hundred thousand transactions at the toll booths on the turnpike.
In total, around 261,000 West Virginians will be on the road and in the skies as they visit family for Thanksgiving.
“Thanksgiving travel volume nationwide is expected to be the third highest since 2001, continuing a year-long trend for strong travel demand,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins, public affairs manager, AAA Blue Grass. “As we approach some of the busiest travel days of the year, with some areas of the country experiencing potentially challenging weather conditions, AAA urges travelers to plan ahead and pack patience for a safe and stress-free travel experience.”
There will be a break in gas prices for people on the road. The average gas price in West Virginia is $3.18, down 19 cents from last year’s average, according to GasBuddy.com
The national average for a gallon of gas is just under $3.28, a 39-cent drop from a year ago.
Several significant storms will impact the area this week as people hit the roads. With severe weather imminent, keeping some items in your car in case of emergency is important.
According to Brad Greer, the CEO of DrySee, a waterproof bandage company, it is important to be prepared.
“Have bandages or dressings,” Greer said.”Have Aleve, extra water, and an extra phone charger. If there’s a big auto accident and your phone is down on battery, have that portable phone charger so you can keep that phone charged. So you can contact emergency personnel if needed. ”
DrySee bandages are waterproof and change colors to indicate when they are contaminated and need to be changed.
