Heavy traffic expected over holiday weekend

NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ Summer’s last holiday is expected to be a busy time on Tennessee roadways with roughly 530,000 motorists expected to go somewhere for the weekend, according to AAA Auto Club South.

Officials attribute the heavy travel to gasoline prices that average more than 40 per gallon lower than they did on Memorial Day ‘ a quarter lower than last Labor Day ‘ and a break from hot temperatures that baked Tennessee for most of August.

Forecasters are calling for weekend high temperatures ranging from the mid-80s in the Tri-Cities to the mid-90s in the Memphis area, with little chance of rain.

In addition, the state Department of Transportation is shutting down road construction projects Friday afternoon until Tuesday morning.

However, the Highway Patrol will be working overtime to enforce safety under a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office. Besides stepped up patrolling, there will be sobriety check points throughout the state.

‘It’s a time to enjoy the holiday, but it’s also a time to be anxious and concerned because people are making dangerous decisions on our highways,’ Glynn Birch, national president for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said during an announcement of the enforcement plan.