Travel Safely This Thanksgiving

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is working to make our Thanksgiving travel easier by removing all temporary lane closures and providing round-the-clock traffic information to help plan holiday travels. VDOT has also launched an interactive Web map that uses historical traffic data for the Thanksgiving holiday to give motorists tools to plan travels around holiday congestion.

Beginning at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 24, until noon Monday, Nov. 29, VDOT will remove all temporary lane closures in place for construction or maintenance activities. Any permanent construction barriers will remain in place.

If you are traveling this Thanksgiving holiday, you’ll want to hit the road before noon on Wednesday, Nov. 24, to beat most of the traffic. Data gathered from the last few years shows the heaviest traffic volume on the interstate system will likely occur from noon and 8 p.m. on the day before Thanksgiving. Congestion on the return trip is harder to predict as motorists tend to head home from Friday through Sunday. However, the heaviest traffic volumes are anticipated for Sunday afternoon.



Motorists can expect heavy congestion in the following locations:

• Interstate 95 between Richmond and Interstates 495/395 Springfield Interchange
• Interstate 66 eastbound and westbound in Northern Virginia
• Interstates 81/77 interchange near Wytheville
• I-81 near Lexington to south of Roanoke
• Interstates 64/95 in the Richmond area

To report a road hazard or to get answers to your transportation question, you may also now call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) around the clock.

Finally, VDOT and Loudoun County Traffic wants everyone to enjoy the holiday season. Motorists can reduce the risk of a crash or serious injury by taking the five-step Highway Safety Challenge and arrive alive:

• Buckle up
• Obey speed limits
• Avoid distractions
• Share the road
• Drive drug- and alcohol-free

  For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.