| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Shannon Marshall 804-371-6844 Shannon.Marshall@vdot.virginia.gov (804) 517-2686 : |
CO-0785 Nov. 16, 2007 |
AGENCY SUSPENDS LANE CLOSURES FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Motorists Encouraged to Buckle Up, Avoid Distractions, Share the Road,
Drive Drug- and Alcohol-free and Obey Speed Limits This Holiday Season
RICHMOND – The Thanksgiving holiday includes many traditions – family gatherings, delicious meals and early-bird shopping.
However, along with all of the excitement, Thanksgiving brings some of the highest traffic volumes on the nation’s highways.
According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, 38.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday and more than 1.1 million Virginians will be among them.
To help ease travel, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will open lanes that would have been temporarily closed, from noon Wednesday, Nov. 21, until noon Friday, Nov. 23.
Long-term construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain in place.
More than 900 people have died in traffic crashes on Virginia’s highways this year.
The increased traffic volume expected on Virginia’s highways this Thanksgiving holiday creates the potential for even more highway tragedies.
VDOT is challenging motorists to help prevent highway fatalities by:
Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — VDOT, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia State Police and AAA Mid-Atlantic — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities.
For more information on the Virginia’s Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia’s next traffic fatality, visit SafeVAHighways.org.
These traffic and traveler services are available to help make travel safer and easier:
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Note to editors: For details about specific projects, contact the district public affairs office for the project area. Those are listed here.
However, along with all of the excitement, Thanksgiving brings some of the highest traffic volumes on the nation’s highways.
According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, 38.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday and more than 1.1 million Virginians will be among them.
To help ease travel, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will open lanes that would have been temporarily closed, from noon Wednesday, Nov. 21, until noon Friday, Nov. 23.
Long-term construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain in place.
More than 900 people have died in traffic crashes on Virginia’s highways this year.
The increased traffic volume expected on Virginia’s highways this Thanksgiving holiday creates the potential for even more highway tragedies.
VDOT is challenging motorists to help prevent highway fatalities by:
- Buckling up
- Avoiding distractions
- Sharing the road
- Driving drug- and alcohol-free
- Obeying speed limits
Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — VDOT, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia State Police and AAA Mid-Atlantic — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities.
For more information on the Virginia’s Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia’s next traffic fatality, visit SafeVAHighways.org.
These traffic and traveler services are available to help make travel safer and easier:
511 Virginia is a one-stop traffic information center where motorists can find out the latest about road conditions, construction delays and other incidents that will impact their travels.Work zones that may pose temporary delays >
You can access the service by dialing 511 from your phone or visiting www.511Virginia.org. Callers outside Virginia can access 511 by dialing (866) MY511VA [(866) 695-1182].
For information on road construction, incidents and to view live traffic cameras, visit VDOT’s Travel Center at VirginiaDOT.org/travel.
E-ZPass, Virginia’s electronic toll collection system, is part of the E-ZPass network.
E-ZPass customers may use their transponders at toll facilities in:For more information on E-ZPass Virginia, visit www.EZPassVA.com.
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West Virginia
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Note to editors: For details about specific projects, contact the district public affairs office for the project area. Those are listed here.
Page last modified: Nov. 20, 2007
