Thanksgiving 2018 Travel Guide: Best and Worst Times for Chicago Drivers

A record number of people will travel during the Thanksgiving holiday.

About 54.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from Wednesday to Sunday – nearly 5% more than last year, according to AAA. In Illinois, 2.8 million people will travel, which is also 5% more than last year.

BETTER AND WORST TIME TO BE ON THE ROAD
– The best time to go – 6h Thanksgiving
– The worst time to leave – 15h Wednesday before Thanksgiving
– The best time to return – 6 hours on Sunday after Thanksgiving
–Worst To Return – 3 pm Sunday after Thanksgiving or 3 pm Friday after Thanksgiving
– The worst time to visit O & # 39; Hare – Between 13:30 and 15:30 Wednesday before Thanksgiving. During this time, it can take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Source: Google

Check out Google's new interactive site for more information, www.mappingthanksgiving.com

CONSTRUCTION DELAY
The good news is that the Illinois Department of Transportation will no longer shut down construction work from Wednesday at 5pm to Monday at 12:01 pm.

The bad news is that there are still many highways and toll roads under construction.

Here are the ones that could cause the most delays:

ILLINOIS / CHICAGO

-Kennedy Expressway to Cumberland
-Jane Byrne Interchange
-Dan Ryan at the 95th station of CTA's red line
-Tri-State (I-294) Reconstruction
-North Tri-State (I-94) construction
-South Tri-State (I-294 / I-80) repair project
Toll Freeway (I-88) to I-290
Saint-Vétérans toll booth (I-355)
From a memorial bridge between veterans and veterans (I-355)

For more information on traffic conditions in the Illinois / Chicago area, visit: https://www.travelmidwest.com

WISCONSIN SOUTH / CENTRAL REGION
-I-39/90 Expansion project
-I-94 North-South Highway Project

To learn more about traffic conditions in Wisconsin, visit: https://511wi.gov

INDIANA – NORTHWEST REGION
-I-65 Expansion of Northwestern Indiana
-I-80/94: The left shoulder is closed in both directions between Colorado and Clay streets, just east of Gary in Lake County.
-I-65: Shoulders are closed in both directions between Routes 1 and 14 in Lake, Newton and Jasper Counties.
-WE. 41: The right lane is closed in both directions between the 77th and 93rd Avenues in Saint John and also between 45th and Main Streets in Highland.
-WE. 20: One lane runs in both directions between US 35 and State Road 39 in La Porte County.

For more information on real-time traffic conditions in Indiana, visit: http://pws.trafficwise.org/pws/

TIPS FOR DRIVING AND DRIVING IN AUTOMOBILE
-Keep at least half a tank of gasoline at all times
-Make sure the tires are properly inflated
-Fill the windshield liquid tank with winter liquid (not freezing)
-When skidding, always look and head in the direction you want to go
-Keep a blanket, gloves, hats, food, water and all necessary medications in your vehicle
-If you fail, stay in your vehicle until the emergency arrives

For more tips on winter safety, click here.

Source: AAA

CHICAGO AIRPORTS READY FOR A HOLIDAY JOURNEY

Midway and O 'Hare airports are expected to be among the busiest airports in the country for Thanksgiving holiday travel this year, with more than two million passengers expected from Tuesday to Monday, an increase of 5, 4% compared to last year, according to the ticket information.

Many people bring food to the airports for Thanksgiving. TSA officials want you to know that if you can pump, pour, spill or spray it, it must be sent in your checked bag. Anything that makes up a solid food such as bread, pies or cakes can be carried away in your luggage.

The TSA suggests that you arrive at least 2 hours before your flight and assures you that it is ready for the intended volume.

"We have added additional staff to both airports," said Steve Lorincz, Regional Director, TSA. "We have also added additional dog resources to ensure we are able to handle volumes from both airports."

For more information, visit flychicago.com.