Officials Warn Of Backups On I-95 In Md., Del.
Heading north on 95? Expect major delays, in part because it's one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Some three million drivers are expected to hit Maryland roads, up two percent. But the real problem is a construction project at the Newark Delaware toll plaza means fewer working toll booths, fewer available lanes and a whole lot more traffic.
"It's not unusual during Thanksgiving holidays with normal activity at the toll plaza to have seven mile backups. Now we have in the northbound direction, we're only going to have four lanes active so we're looking at possibly an excess of 25 miles backup," said Bob King.
It's a 47-year-old toll plaza getting a $32 million renovation that won't be completed until next summer. In the meantime, drivers will have to suffer through the delays.
"Plan ahead. Plan an alternate route. Plan to go on off-hours. That's the best way we can say," King said.
Officials caution southbound traffic will experience delays but nearly as bad as northbound traffic, which could set drivers back an extra hour or even more. If you manage to head north and avoid traffic jams altogether, count yourself lucky.
Officials say if you are driving north, expect it to take an extra hour or two.
Drivers are urged to check traffic reports before leaving.
