Martin Reese knows what road-weary, cooped-up motorists entering and exiting Arkansas during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period expect.
"They like a happy, positive attitude," said Reese, the manager of the Arkansas Welcome Center on U.S. 65/82 in Lake Village.
And Reese, who has worked for more than 16 years at the welcome center that overlooks Lake Chicot, greets more than his usual share of motorists during the bustling Thanksgiving holidays, when travelers drop by the welcome center by the bunches on their way to and from visiting family and friends.
"The heaviest traveling starts the weekend before Thanksgiving and continues on through the weekend after Thanksgiving," Reese said. "A lot of time travelers are just wanting a warm place to rest for a little while and to get out of the weather. Some just want a hot cup of coffee."
Those motorists coming into and departing Arkansas this week will join millions of others as the busiest Thanksgiving holiday travel period in seven years starts. According to AAA, some 46.3 million Americans are expected to journey 50 miles or farther from home during the Thanksgiving holidays, the highest volume of traffic for the holiday since 2007 and a 4.2 percent increase over 2013. About 41.3 million of those travelers will be on the road. AAA, a not-for-profit travel and automotive services association, considers its Thanksgiving holiday travel period as Wednesday through Sunday, which means millions of other travelers are already on their way.
Travelers by automobile will keep Arkansas roads busy during the travel period, but motorists can expect the lowest Thanksgiving gasoline prices in five years and clear weather, along with a few lane closures, during their road trips. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Arkansas was $2.66 on Sunday, down from $3.09 during the Thanksgiving holidays last year, according to AAA. The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $2.82 on Sunday, down from $3.28 at the same time in 2013.
Watching motorists on state roadways is the Arkansas State Police, along with other state and local law enforcement as they kick off their Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign, which starts today and ends Sunday.
"Thanksgiving is always one of the big travel deals," said Cpl. Chuck Lewis of the Arkansas State Police. "That actually starts our holiday period that runs through New Year's. This time of year and the Fourth of July are our biggest travel holidays."
District courts within Arkansas counties set their own fines for seat-belt law violations, but Lewis said the easiest way to avoid a fine and save money over the holidays is simple: Wear your seat belt.
"The main focus is seat belts," Lewis said. "But we're looking for everything, especially excessive speeding and inattentive driving or distracted driving. We are trying to cut back on the wrecks."
According to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, motorists can expect delays with increased traffic volume and work zones, but only minimal lane closures during the holidays.
Five miles of Interstate 40 lanes in West Memphis are closed in both directions, and five miles of an eastbound Interstate 40 lane around Brinkley are closed. Four miles of Interstate 40 around Russellville will be down to one lane in both directions.
A lane of southbound Interstate 430 in Little Rock is closed for one mile, and eight miles of Interstate 530 lanes in both directions are closed at the Pulaski and Saline county line. Five miles of U.S. 67 in Bald Knob is also down to one lane in both directions.
Skies and airports during the Thanksgiving holidays will also be busy. An estimated number of passengers flying into and out of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field in Little Rock during the holidays was unavailable, but about 33,500 passengers used the airport during its 10-day Thanksgiving holiday travel period last year and AAA says that 3.5 million Americans are flying this year during the holidays, the highest number of fliers since 2007.
Shane Carter, the Little Rock airport spokesman, reports that holiday travel started late last week and the holiday swarm of travelers continues through next Monday, with the Sunday after Thanksgiving expected to be the busiest travel day at the airport.
"The Thanksgiving holidays are the busiest time of year we have at the airport," he said. "Leading up to Thanksgiving, people leave at various times, but it seems like most everyone comes back to either Little Rock or goes back home on the Sunday following."
Carter also said that most flights out of Little Rock were booked solid, so fliers should arrive early and be up to date on the latest Transportation Security Administration rules and regulations so travelers don't miss their flight.
"If you don't make it on your flight here, because of the flights being full, you may have a hard time getting out on another flight," he said.
Once in Arkansas, visitors can expect clear weather in The Natural State during the Thanksgiving holidays, although temperatures statewide will be a little cooler than normal.
"It looks like a dry period through at least Thanksgiving and Friday," said John Robinson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in North Little Rock. "We don't have any rain right now for next Saturday, but that is probably, at least, our first small chance of rain if it materializes. We should get through the holiday week with sunny to partly cloudy skies and below-normal temperatures."
Metro on 11/24/2014