AAA is projecting that 2.5 million Marylanders and 3.4 million Virginians will be driving somewhere this week and next during the holidays.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re traveling on the road over the holiday season, you will certainly not be alone. AAA is expecting records to be broken through New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
They project that 2.5 million Marylanders and 3.4 million Virginians will be driving somewhere this week and the next. Experts are crediting lower gas prices as a motivating factor to hit the road over the holiday season.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be more traffic on the roadway. Obviously, it\u2019s easier to travel. We did see that around Thanksgiving, during that holiday,\u201d Charlie Gischlar, deputy director of communications with the Maryland State Highway Administration, told WTOP. \u201cJust expect a lot of company on the roadways, and always give yourself plenty of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gischlar added that MDOT-SHA are doing some things to help relieve congestion.<\/p>\n
To help ease the burden, there will be some traffic changes in the D.C. region to help bring the holiday spirit.<\/p>\n
Maryland<\/p>\n
In Maryland, there will be no lane closures for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1, according to the state\u2019s transportation authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Monday and Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., the westbound span could be closed due to maintenance work. As a result, there will be two-way traffic on the eastbound span.<\/p>\n Also on Monday and Tuesday, one lane of the eastbound span could be closed due to maintenance work from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also enhance our highway patrollers in a lot of areas that are really heavy because they can get on the scene quicker, remove disabled vehicle debris or help clear crashes to the shoulder and get those lanes open as soon as possible,\u201d Gischlar said. \u201cThose are some of the things that we\u2019re doing to try to get out of people\u2019s way and help keep traffic moving around the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n The westbound span could be closed for the following days and times:<\/p>\n Saturday, Dec. 27 \u2014 8 p.m.\u00a0to 8 a.m. The eastbound span could be closed for the following days and times:<\/p>\n Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30 \u2014 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Virginia<\/p>\n In Virginia, the state\u2019s department of transportation<\/a> will make life easier for its resident travelers.<\/p>\n A lot of the highway work zones will be suspended, along with the temporary lane closures on Virginia\u2019s interstates and major roads being lifted from noon on Wednesday to noon on Friday, and from noon on Wednesday, Dec. 31, to noon on Friday, Jan. 2.<\/p>\n But travelers could come across semi-permanent work zones that will stay in place, despite the lifted lane closures.<\/p>\n Virginia residents can look to VDOT\u2019s travel advisories website<\/a> for any travel alerts. They can also check out the free mobile 511 app<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tips on driving safely on the roadways during the holidays include putting on your seat belt, not looking at your phone while driving and leaving early for extra time to get to your destination.<\/p>\n WTOP\u2019s Alan Etter contributed to this story.<\/p>\n
\nSunday, Dec. 28 \u2014 10 p.m.\u00a0to 5 a.m.
\nMonday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30 \u2014 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
\nFriday, Jan. 2 \u2014\u00a09 p.m.\u00a0to 8 a.m.
\nSaturday, Jan. 3 \u2014 8 p.m.\u00a0to 9 a.m.<\/p>\n
\nFriday, Jan. 2 \u2014 9 a.m. to noon<\/p>\n