The Indiana Department of Transportation reminds Hoosiers to travel safely and plan more driving time during the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday. AAA Hoosier Motor club predicts that an improving economy will prompt nearly 980,000 travelers to hit Indiana roads November 23 through November 27 – a 2 percent increase over last year.
Hoosier Helpers sponsored by State Farm will patrol urban interstates in Indianapolis, Northwest Indiana and Southern Indiana near Louisville during heavy travel periods this holiday.
Newly-opened bridges and interchanges will welcome Thanksgiving travelers this year. A U.S. 31 traffic signal was replaced with a $10.8 million exit at State Road 28 that opened Tuesday. Previous improvements near Indianapolis, Kokomo and South Bend removed more than 32 stoplights along U.S. 31.
I-65 Ohio River bridges and improved interstate connections in Louisville and southern Indiana opened to traffic last week. Late this year the new and refurbished I-65 bridges will begin using all-electronic tolling, which means no slowing or stopping for toll booths.
Most highway maintenance activities and construction projects will halt work this holiday weekend to increase roadway mobility and safety. INDOT directs its contractors to pull back barriers and barricades to the safest extent possible to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic.
Learn about traffic and road conditions, crashes and construction on state highways by visiting http://indot.carsprogram.org, calling 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or dialing 511 from a mobile phone.
