Expect Travel Delays This Memorial Day Weekend

What are your plans for this coming Memorial Day weekend? Perhaps you're going to kick off the unofficial start to summer with family and friends. Or maybe your packing up the family truckster and hitting the road for destinations known or unknown. If that's the case you won't be alone, according to AAA you'll be joining 38 million other Amercians who plan to travel this weekend. There could be delays while driving because this will be the second-highest recorded Memorial Day weekend travel volume ever, the highest being set in 2005. Right now gas prices are averaging around $2.30 per gallon so travel costs should be down compared to past years.

Of course the other delay in your travel plans will be what many consider the third season in Minnesota. The dreaded construction season is well underway, and if you're thinking about heading up to Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls and other areas in northwestern Minnesota, MnDOT warns that there will be major delays along Interstate 94 for several resurfacing and reconstruction projects. Also in and around Duluth expect lane restrictions and ramp closures. In southern Minnesota you'll run across single-lane traffic on Highway 52 between Zumbrota and Pine Island and a couple of detours, one on Highway 169 between St. Peter and Mankato and the other on Highway 23 between Holland and Pipestone.

If you're looking for a list of road construction projects and other info, you'll find them at http://www.dot.state.mn.us. or you can check www.511mn.org for up-to-date information about traffic and road conditions.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable time.