3.5 Million Motorists Expected In PA For Busiest Thanksgiving In Years

PENNSYLVANIA — Some 3.5 million motorists are expected on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for the busiest Thanksgiving holiday weekend in years, officials said, with congestion in the densely populated Philadelphia area forecasted to approach pre-pandemic levels.

AAA called it a "dramatic" bounceback from the past two years, marred by the lingering pandemic and huge spikes in coronavirus cases during fall surges, which prompted warnings against social gatherings from health experts.

“Thanksgiving travel volume is expected to reach near pre-pandemic levels this year, an indicator that travel demand is rebounding as people flock to the roadways, airways and more to be with family and friends,” Jana Tidwell, AAA's manager of public and government affairs for the mid-Atlantic region, said in a statement. "As we approach some of the busiest travel days of the year, AAA urges travelers to plan ahead and pack patience for a safe and stress-free travel experience.”"

The Philadelphia area forecast for 2022 includes a nearly 2 percent increase in travelers over 2021, authorities said. That number is the same statewide.

A total of 670,000 Philadelphia-are residents are expected to travel, with more than 595,000 of them traveling on the road, according to AAA.

Increases are also expected in bus, train, cruise ship, and air travel, officials said, with up to a 21 percent gain predicted across those sectors.

For residents hitting the road, state authorities are urging caution. PennDOT said that from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2021 through the New Year, there were 1,276 crashes resulting in 41 deaths on state roads.

Thanksgiving is the single busiest travel time of the year, the Pennsylvania Turnpike said. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the busiest days.

“Holiday activities can increase our levels of stress and fatigue, and this can contribute to distracted driving," PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said in a statement. "Other activities that take drivers’ attention off the road, including talking or texting on cellphones, eating, turning your head to talk with passengers, and adjusting vehicle controls are major safety threats. Avoid doing that while driving."

The state's "Operation Safe Holiday" began Nov. 14 and will continue through Nov. 27. It includes increased enforcement efforts on seatbelt usage across the state. Sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and regular traffic safety patrols will also be implemented from the Wednesday before Thanskgiving through the New Year.

Traffic could be a significant problem.

Here are the potential trouble spots in the Philadelphia area:

• I-295 S @ I-76/Exit 26 (Camden County, NJ)
• I-76 E @ Belmont Avenue/Exit 338 (Montgomery County)
• I-76 W @ PA-320.Gulph Road/Exit 330 (Montgomery County
• I-76 W @ Montgomery Drive/Exit 341 (Philadelphia County)
• I-95 S @ US-322/Exit 2/Exit 3 (Delaware County)
• I-476 N @ US-1/Exit 5 (Delaware County)
• PA-309 S @ Stump Road (Montgomery County)
• US-202 N @ US-1/Baltimore Pike (Delaware County)
• I-95 N @ Aramingo Avenue/Richmond Street (Philadelphia County)
• I-476 S @ I-95 (Delaware County)

To avoid the most hectic times, travel early in the morning on Wednesday or before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Avoid traveling between 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.