Labor Day Weekend 2017: Best Times To Hit Roads, Maryland Travel Forecast

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Pack up now and hit the road if your Labor Day weekend 2017 plans include enjoying crabs and the beaches of Maryland's Eastern Shore, or face stop-and-go traffic as you try to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Maryland Transportation Authority on Wednesday issued its advice for drivers who want to avoid major traffic delays on the bridge this last summer weekend before school starts, and warn that 1.8 million drivers are expected to use its facilities.

And while authorities didn't quite say leave now or be doomed to a traffic backup that stretches for miles, the MDTA suggests leaving for your holiday early when heading to and from the Eastern Shore. The best times to get across the Bay Bridge this weekend are:

• Thursday: Before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Friday: Before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
• Saturday: Before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Sunday: Before 8 a.m. and after midnight
• Labor Day Monday: Before 10 a.m. and after midnight

The MDTA says the volume of nearly 2 million drivers expected on the state's highway would be a 1 percent increase in traffic volumes compared to last year. Authorities anticipate the following number of vehicles to travel toll facilities between Friday, Sept. 1, and Monday, Sept. 4:

• William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge (US 50/301): more than 356,000.
• John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95): more than 441,600.
• Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95, I-395): more than 465,200.

An additional 561,000 vehicles are projected to travel the Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695), the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895), the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40) and the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (US 301) combined.

Additional MDTA Police patrols will be on the lookout for impaired drivers at Maryland toll facilities throughout the holiday weekend.

Check traffic conditions before you hit the road:

• Call 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) for 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic conditions.
• Visit baybridge.com to view traffic cameras and to sign up for email alerts.
• Follow the MDTA at twitter.com/TheMDTA and facebook.com/TheMDTA.
• Ease your travel with E-ZPass. Visit ezpassmd.com to enroll online and for a list of E-ZPass “On the Go” retail locations.
• Know Before You Go - To view traffic cameras on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov. Call 511 or visit MD511.org for statewide travel information.

Beach, Water Quality Alerts On Your Phone
If you want to check the water quality conditions for state parks and Maryland beaches, the Maryland Healthy Beaches website and smartphone app can help. The website lists beaches that are closed, under advisories or have algae blooms, and you can sign up for beach alerts as conditions change. The app is available for download via the App Store and Google Play.

Weekend Weather Forecast

The weekend starts soggy with a slight chance of rain after 2 p.m. on Friday, then the rain chances increase to 50 percent on Friday night, 60 percent throughout Saturday, and 50 percent on Saturday night, says the National Weather Service. But from there the weekend looks pretty good, with partly sunny skies on Sunday and a high near 79, and even better conditions on Labor Day with mostly sunny skies and a high near 84.

Travel Numbers, Gas Prices

About 37.2 million Americans are expected to travel for Labor Day weekend, the AAA's highest estimate for the holiday since 2008 and up from 35.5 million in 2015, the last time the auto club did a Labor Day travel estimate.

And in many parts of the country, expect to pay a few more bucks at the pump thanks, at least in part, to Hurricane Harvey. For example, Georgia drivers can expect to spend an extra 10-30 cents per gallon for gasoline this week, said AAA auto club.

Today’s AAA price check says the national average for a gallon of gas is $2.40. The average fuel price in Maryland on Wednesday was $2.35 a gallon, while it's $2.19 in Virginia.

You can check gas prices for your travel destination here: GasBuddy.

AAA has online tools to help drivers save on gas:

• Fuel Price Finder locates the lowest fuel price in your area.
• Fuel Cost Calculator helps budget travel expenses.
• TripTik Mobile plots fuel prices along your travel route.

Rules of the Road:

• Devote your full attention to driving - it is illegal to text and use hand-held cell phones while driving in Maryland.
• Buckle Up! Every Seat. Every Time.
• State law requires vehicles to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck using visual signals. If you are unable to move over, slow down.
• Obey posted speed limits and overhead lane-control signals.
• Avoid changing lanes while traveling over bridges and through tunnels.
• Headlights are required at all times on the Bay Bridge.
• Keep your eyes on the road - do not sight-see.
• Do not tailgate - keep a safe following distance.
• Make sure your vehicle is "road ready."
• If your vehicle becomes disabled, remain inside and call #77 for assistance.

»Photo of Bay Bridge courtesy of Maryland Transportation Authority