Surge in travelers expected for Memorial Day weekend

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Triple-A estimates that more than 43.8 million people are expected to travel more than 50 miles this Memorial Day weekend in the U.S.

Heavy travel days are set to be Thursday and Friday for outgoing travelers, and Sunday through Monday for people returning home from vacations. 

Those looking to take a road trip in Indiana should be especially careful as traffic is expected to increase because of the Indianapolis 500. 

State troopers have deployed extra units and will be expanding hours of patrols to make sure people stay safe on the roads. 

Tips for safe driving include leaving before rush hour traffic, avoiding drinking and driving and eliminating distractions on the roadways.

The South Bend International Airport recommends getting to flights early, as they anticipate a busy travel weekend, with passenger numbers continuing to climb. 

This also marks the first major holiday where the South Shore Line's completed double track system is in place, cutting down on travel times for anyone looking to vacation in the Chicagoland area. 

While the South Shore Line experienced delays on Wednesday, they expect to have them patched for the busy weekend ahead.