CINCINNATI -- Despite a recent spike in gas prices, transportation officials expect this Memorial Day weekend to be one of the busiest Tri-State roadways have seen in nearly 15 years.
According to AAA, this weekend could see the highest number of travelers since 2005 when you include those traveling not only by car but also by plane, train, bus and cruise ships. In Ohio alone, the motor club projects more than 1.6 million people have holiday travel plans.
Most of those people will travel by car, said AAA Ohio spokeswoman Jenifer Moore.
"The vast majority of this year's Memorial Day journeys -- nearly nine in 10 nationally -- will be road trips on our highways," Moore said.
Moore said it's important that drivers check their batteries, engine systems and tires before hitting the road. She expects more than 6,000 Cincinnati-area motorists will require some form of roadside assistance throughout the weekend.
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Gas prices have risen in recent weeks, though, AAA reports. According to its online fuel finder tool, the average price for gas in Greater Cincinnati was $3 as of this writing, up from an average of $2.75 in April and $2.46 this time last year.
AAA will calculate the fuel cost for your trip here.
A perennial challenge with Memorial Day travel is that it coincides with the start of the summer road construction season, and we all know the Tri-State has more than its fair share of road projects currently underway.
But transportation officials say most if not all roadwork will pause during daylight hours, at least.
"We will have any existing large work zone configuration still in place," said Brian Cunningham, with the Ohio Department of Transportation. "However, there will be no work occurring in these work zones between Thursday evening and Monday morning."
Other minor work -- like pothole patching or guardrail repairs -- might take place into Friday, Cunningham said, but that work should be wrapped up by mid-afternoon.
As for the Commonwealth, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 6 -- which encompasses all of Northern Kentucky -- said any major roadwork will take place only after dusk, but like in Ohio, major work zones will remain in place.
Here's a rundown of the major road projects currently in progress that drivers should look out for when hitting the road this weekend:
Ohio
- Drivers should expect continued lane closures along Interstate 275 between the Kentucky side of the Combs-Hehl Bridge in Campbell County and Four Mile Road in Hamilton County.
- While most of the work surrounding the Lytle Tunnel on Interstate 71 is complete, ODOT warns there could be intermittent lane and ramp closures continuing throughout the year.
- Work zones are established along Interstate 75 from Shepherd Lane to Glendale-Milford Road as part of ODOT's "Thru the Valley" project.
ODOT's major projects. Click or tap the map for more information on each project. (Provided)
Kentucky
- A pavement repair project is underway on I-71/75 between Buttermilk Pike and Turfway Road. KYTC advises motorists to be on the lookout for lane closures, lane switches, crews and equipment.
Pat LaFleur reports on transportation and mobility for WCPO. Connect with him on Twitter (@pat_laFleur) and on Facebook.
