Travel expected to be up for holiday

Gas prices fell in August, helping AAA Carolinas to forecast an 8.1 percent increase in Labor Day travel.

An estimated 70,000 more motorists are expected to vacation more than 50 miles from home this holiday than last year. All estimates on this release are based on numbers prior to forecasts of Hurricane Earl.

Travelers heading to the coast this weekend should pay close attention to forecasts, warnings and evacuations prior to hitting the road.

North Carolina prices average $2.58 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, down 11 cents from the summer peak on Aug. 11, and 16 cents lower than Memorial Day gasoline prices. Retail gasoline prices typically do not drop until after Labor Day.

Approximately 930,000 North Carolinians are expected to travel during the long holiday weekend, despite continued high unemployment and economic uncertainty.

AAA Carolinas has seen a 26 percent rise in travel business and a 9.5 percent increase in requested personalized TripTik map routings.

Falling gas prices, numerous hotel and travel package deals and the last hurrah for summer vacation are contributing to 92 percent of travelers, or 861,000 people, driving to their Labor Day holiday destination.

Air travel will rise despite higher airfares. AAA forecasts a 3.9 percent increase, representing 41,000 North Carolinians flying over the long weekend.

AAA’s Leisure Travel Index reports the lowest round-trip rates moving up 9 percent from last year to $179 for the top 40 U.S. air routes.

Travelers flying to destinations along the East Coast should check their flight status before leaving for the airport. Tropical weather may impact flight routes. AAA also recommends checking with your hotel for local updates on the storm’s impact.

The remaining 3 percent, or 28,000 travelers, will journey by bus, train or boat, according to surveys prepared by IHS Global Insight on behalf of AAA.

The average gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in North Carolina is $2.58, down 3 cents from a week ago and only 6 cents higher than this time last year. The most expensive gasoline in the state is in Boone at $2.65 and the least expensive is in Fayetteville at $2.54.

The most popular destinations for motorists: Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Asheville, Raleigh, Savannah and Washington D.C., according to AAA Vacations, which tracks hotel bookings and TripTik routings.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) cited 1,291 motorists with driving while impaired during their Booze It & Lose It campaign over the July 4th holiday. They will be helping local law enforcement perform similar checkpoints around the state during the Labor Day weekend as well.

Motorist will experience delays in North Carolina in three areas:

• U.S. 17 Business in Jacksonville (Onslow County) is reduced to two-lane, two-way traffic on the Buddy Phillips Bridge over the New River due to replacement of the bridge;

• U.S. 17 in Windsor (Bertie County) is reduced to one lane on the Cashie River Bridge due to construction. Traffic is controlled by signals; however, commercial trucks are restricted on this route and detour signs are in place. All motorists are encouraged to use the U.S. 17 Bypass around Windsor to avoid possible delays;

• Glenwood Avenue/U.S. 70 in Raleigh (Wake County) from the Five Points intersection to Wade Avenue will have lane closures due to the replacement of concrete. Motorists are encouraged to use Oberlin Road or Capital Boulevard as an alternate route.

Check www.ncdot.org/traffictravel for real-time updates.

Motorists taking a trip can budget estimated gas costs for their personal vehicles on www.fuelcostcalculator.com. By entering origin, destination, make and model of their vehicle, motorists receive the estimated gasoline cost for their trip.