About 8.2 million drivers are expected to use the Parkway from Thursday through Tuesday. The Turnpike is projected see about half the traffic
Buckle up, New Jersey - this Memorial Day weekend could be a slow, bumpy ride.
More than 975,000 residents will travel at least 50 miles between Thursday and Monday - a surge in travelers to its highest point since 2005, according to the annual traffic forecast by AAA Northeast in New Jersey.
"Make sure you pack your patience," said Cathleen Lewis, director of public and governmental affairs for AAA Northeast.
That also marks 2.5 percent increase in travelers over last year and more than 90 percent of those taking a trip will be on the Garden State's roads. The increase is likely due to both consumer confidence and gas prices, Lewis said.
"They have a little bit more confidence that they're going to be able to spend that extra money on that road trip," she said. "They're going to have that little bit of extra money to go out to dinner when they take that trip. They have that flexibility."
She said gas prices, particularly in New Jersey, have stayed relatively low and fluctuations have been minimal. The organization said drivers in New Jersey will pay an average price for a gallon of about $2.40 - up from $2.15 last year - but that includes the new gas tax.
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New Jersey is also about 10 cents cheaper than its neighboring states, Lewis said.
The busiest travel days this weekend, as usual, will be Friday and Monday, Lewis said. She recommends people hit the roads with a full tank, check oil levels and tire pressure, and be prepared for some slow downs.
Tom Feeney, a Turnpike Authority spokesman, said Friday is expected to be the busiest days for the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
About 8.2 million drivers are expected to use the Parkway from Thursday through Tuesday, Feeney said. The Turnpike is projected see about half the traffic. Both projections are up slightly up from last year.
There's some good and bad news for those hitting the Jersey Shore.
The Route 37 Mathis Bridge to Seaside Heights and nearby shore towns has suspended construction work and opened lanes in both directions for the summer.
In Cape May County, however, the Townsends Inlet Bridge - which links Avalon and Sea Isle City - remains closed for the busy Memorial Day weekend due to ongoing emergency repairs. Both towns remain accessible from the Garden State Parkway.
The state Route 50 bridge that connects Upper Township and Corbin City in Cape May County is open, according to traffic website 511nj.org.
The Bayonne Bridge connecting the Hudson County city to Staten Island, New York City will open Friday at 5 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.