Record Number Of Drivers Hitting Road For 4th Of July Weekend
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- With the Fourth of July coming on Monday, Americans are stretching the weekend, beginning Thursday and running through the holiday. It is estimated that 36 million people are going to be driving.
AAA has been counting and estimating the vehicles on the road for a long time and this is going to be a record. The Pennsylvania Turnpike estimates 3 million drivers will be on the Turnpike over the weekend with Friday seeing the peak of 700,000, and another 600,000 on the way back on Tuesday.
Why the sudden wanderlust?
Gas prices are actually 50 cents lower than they were this time last year so many people are taking advantage of that.
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While there will be plenty of folks heading out of town, the fact is Pittsburgh attracts it's share of people coming in for the weekend. Aided this weekend by the Billy Joel, and Kenny Chesney concerts and the fireworks on Monday.
"The whole city is going to be packed with people and traditionally there are about 500,000 people who will be here that day through the night," said Derek Weber with Peony Entertainment.
If you are traveling by air this weekend, the attack on the airport in Instanbul has security heightened wherever there will be travelers and Pittsburgh International is no exception. Expect longer than normal times through security.
People are encouraged to do the TSA precheck.