Those using the Maine Turnpike to travel over the Labor Day weekend should plan on heavy traffic.
More than 1 million vehicles will likely travel on the turnpike between Friday and Monday, according to a news release from the Maine Turnpike Authority. That’s an increase of nearly 3% over last year’s holiday weekend.
The turnpike authority recorded a little over a million “transactions” over the four-day period in 2022.
“Despite an expected increase from last year, traffic is anticipated to be down compared to the Turnpike’s record-breaking year of 2019 when 1.1 million transactions occurred over Labor Day weekend,” the release stated.
Construction and maintenance on the turnpike will be suspended over the long weekend, however the turnpike authority notes there will be areas with narrowed lanes and reduced speed zones.
The authority asks motorists to obey the posted work zone speed limit.
Friday is expected to be have the heaviest traffic heading northbound of the entire long weekend, especially between 3-7 p.m. Turnpike authority mascot Miles the Maine Turnpike Moose and staff will be greeting visitors at the Kennebunk northbound plaza on Friday from noon to 2 p.m.
Traffic is predicted to be heavy northbound and southbound between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Monday will likely have the heaviest traffic heading southbound out of the long weekend, particularly between noon and 7 p.m.
