COLUMBUS – More than 2 million Ohioans are joining the estimated 42 million Americans who are defying high gas prices and braving crowded highways this Independence Day weekend.
The auto club AAA predicts that overall travel will increase of by 3.8% in Ohio during the period from Thursday through Monday, a3.7% nationally, and 3.8% for Ohio.
While national travel numbers are expected to fall just shy of 2019, the auto club expects Ohio travel volume to reach a new high.
The AAA reports the average price for regular gas in Ohio Friday morning was $1.73 more than one year ago.
4th of July gas prices
Ohio…………………………….$4.79
Michigan………………………$4.98
Pennsylvania………………..$4.92
W. Virginia……………………$4.81
Kentucky……………………..$4.56
Indiana………………………..$4.93
Lake Erie/Cedar Point…..$4.82
King’s Island………………..$4.87
Hocking Hills……………….$4.57
Amish Country…………….$4.75
Source: AAA
Drivers should expect the longest travel delays heading into the holiday weekend, particularly during the afternoons on Thursday and Friday as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers.
“If you’re traveling on Thursday or Friday, prior to the holiday weekend, the busiest times are going to be in the afternoon and evening,” Kimberly Schwind, senior communications director for AAA Ohio, said.
Based on data from the travel monitoring service INRIX, Schwind recommends leaving after 8:00 p.m. Thursday or before 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Motorists who miss that window should wait until about 9:00 p.m. or pack their patience as INRIX predicts delays in major metropolitan areas will be 50% longer than usual during the day.
Orange barrels and blue lights
The Ohio Department of Transportation is making efforts to reduce the size of the 829 construction zones across the state, spokesman Matt Bruning said.
However, he says drivers should expect construction-related delays in the following locations:
I-70/71 through downtown Columbus
I-70 in Springfield and Zanesville
I-75 in Toledo, Dayton, and Cincinnati
Several projects in and around the Akron area
ODOT is reminding holiday travelers this year that work zones require extra attention and drivers need to slow down.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be focused on getting impaired off the roads making sure drivers are buckled up.
A total of 23 people were killed during last year’s Fourth of July reporting period in Ohio, according to highway patrol data. Twelve of the fatal crashes involved alcohol or drugs.
Air travel struggles to get off the ground
Higher flight costs, recent issues with air travel and ongoing concerns of cancelations and delays may be pushing more people to drive this year, Schwind said.
Ohio air travel numbers will fall 1.2% compared to last Independence Day, with just over 70,000 Ohioans flying during the five-day holiday period.