Labor Day Weekend 2019: Worst Time To Travel, Routes To Avoid

ACROSS ILLINOIS — With nearly eight million vehicles expected to travel the 294-mile Illinois Tollway from Friday, Aug. 30, through Tuesday, Sept. 3 this Labor Day weekend, the Illinois Tollway reminds everyone on the road that using a hand-held cell phone while driving or failing to obey the Move Over Law will result in steeper penalties and fines, according to a release from Illinois Tollway.

When is the worst time to travel? Friday, Aug. 30, when nearly two million cars are expected on the road during the heaviest day of travel, according to the tollway. On the average day, about 1.6 million drivers use the tollway.

Those using the tollway over the holiday weekend include those headed to airports, and a report by Airlines for America (A4A) projects U.S. airlines to carry an average of 2.51 million passengers per day during the week-long travel period, with Friday, Aug. 30, expected to be the busiest day of the period, (2.98 million passengers flying aboard U.S. carriers), followed by Thursday, Aug. 29, with 2.82 million passengers. On Labor Day itself, 2.71 million passengers are expected on U.S. carriers.

Obey the law

Whether you're driving to your weekend destination or to the airport, the Illinois Tollway reminds drivers traveling this Labor Day weekend that failing to obey the Move Over Law or using a hand-held cell phone while driving will result in steep fines and penalties.

Sheriff Explains 'Scott's Law' After Trooper's Death

The Move Over Law, also known as Scott’s Law, was recently expanded to increase the minimum fine for a first-time violation to $250 and to $750 for subsequent violations in an effort to better protect law enforcement, first responders, road workers and everyday motorists. The expanded law also increases criminal penalties to up to three years in prison if the violation results in an injury or death of another person.

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This year alone, three Illinois State troopers have been killed while responding to incidents on the tollway due to drivers not following Scott's Law.

Illinois law also prohibits the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving.

• A first-time offense for using an electronic communication device while driving in Illinois is now considered a moving violation, even if the vehicle is stopped at a traffic signal.
• The fine for a first offense is a maximum of $75.
• $100 for a second offense.
• $125 for a third offense
• $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense.
• Drivers with three or more moving violations within a 12-month period risk suspension of their driver’s license.

Construction, areas to avoid

Holiday Work Zones: To accommodate holiday travel on the Illinois Tollway, construction activity will be restricted to better serve Tollway customers. Most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures will be suspended from noon on Friday, August 30, through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3. Some work may continue behind barriers to keep work on schedule.

Some areas to avoid:

Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

• On I-94, traffic in both directions between Half Day Road and the Edens Spur is reduced to four lanes and shifted.
• On the Edens Spur, between Pfingsten Road and the Edens Expressway, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.
• Between the O’Hare Oasis and Balmoral Avenue, traffic is shifted in both directions.

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

• Between I-290 and York Road, traffic is shifted in both directions and access to I-290, Mannheim Road and I-294 is restricted in certain lanes, so drivers need to pay attention to construction signage.

Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)

• Between Butterfield Road and Roosevelt Road, shoulders in both directions are closed and traffic is shifted. No trucks are allowed in the left lane.

Gas prices:

AAA reports the national gas price average is poised to be potentially the cheapest Labor Day weekend average in three years. Today’s average of $2.59 is already nearly a quarter cheaper than during last year’s holiday ($2.83) and four cents cheaper than 2017’s Labor Day ($2.63), according to a release from AAA.

“For Americans who bookend summer with road trips, they will find gas prices this coming weekend that are cheaper than this past Memorial Day and last year’s Labor Day holiday," Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson, said in a release. “At the start of the week, two-thirds of all states have gas price averages that are nearly a quarter cheaper than last year."

AAA adds while some states may see a small increase in prices before the weekend, any climb in price will be temporary.

Tollway travel tips:

• Dial *999 for Roadway Assistance to get help 24/7 from the Tollway's roadway maintenance crews. Motorist aid patrols stand ready to help stranded customers change tires, jump-start batteries, add coolant, dispense fuel, transport customers, move vehicles away from traffic and call for a tow truck. District 15 troopers patrol the Tollway system 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The Tollway's Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks will also be patrolling the Tollway system from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Friday, Aug. 31 and on Monday, Sept. 3. State troopers patrol the Tollway system 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Take I-PASS with You: I-PASS can be used to pay tolls on the Illinois Tollway system and in other states that accept E-ZPass, including Indiana and 15 other states that are part of the E-ZPass network.
• Dial in at a Tollway Oasis: Drivers can stop by any of the six Tollway oases facilities to safely and conveniently use their mobile devices for calling, texting, posting and accessing apps. There are four oases locations on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80): Lake Forest, O’Hare, Hinsdale and the Chicago Southland Lincoln in South Holland, as well as on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Belvidere and on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) in DeKalb.

Avoid airport anxiety:

Many stress about how busy airports will be this holiday weekend. However, if you're headed to O'Hare, make sure you allow yourself enough time to simply make it to the airport on time. Why? Chicago Department of Aviation advises drivers that roadway construction near O’Hare is ongoing.

"Please allow extra time if you are heading to and from the airport during peak travel times," CDA said, in a release.

• Check O'Hare and Midway TSA wait times

The A4A report also said it expects a record 17.5 million passengers to travel on U.S. airlines worldwide during the week-long Labor Day travel period, from Aug. 28 through Sept. 3. That represents a 4 percent increase from the 16.9 million passengers estimated to have flown during the same holiday period last year.

“With fares at historic lows and customer satisfaction at historic highs, travelers continue to take to the skies in record numbers,” A4A Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich said, in a report.

Even as U.S. airlines cope with the reduction of more than 300 daily flights due to the grounding of the 737 MAX, they are adding 109,000 seats per day to their schedules to accommodate the additional 95,000 daily passengers expected during the Labor Day travel period.

Take the train!

• Metra $10 Weekend Pass: Includes Labor Day and allows unlimited rides anywhere on Metra's system. The pass, which is normally valid on Saturdays and Sundays, will also be available for travel on the Monday holiday. The pass can be purchased on board and through the Ventra App.
• Family Fares: Allows kids 11 and under to ride free with a fare-paying adult, will also be extended through the holiday weekend.

>> Early getaway schedules and schedules for individual lines

What's closed?

Schools, government buildings, shipping services and banks will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, among other select businesses and services. Several restaurants and other spots will be open, so make sure to check hours before heading out.