Turnpike News

Heavy Thanksgiving Traffic Volumes Not Expected

to Cause Delays on Maine Turnpike

Traffic flow evenly spread northbound and southbound

More than 30,000 vehicles will enter Turnpike at York Today

PORTLAND—Traffic volumes on the Maine Turnpike will be heavy over the long Thanksgiving weekend, but officials say it will be evenly spread northbound and southbound and therefore should not result in delays. 

“Unlike busy summer weekends, when the bulk of traffic is heading north at the beginning of the weekend and south at the end, Thanksgiving traffic is evenly spread in both directions,” said Turnpike spokesman Dan Paradee.  “Nearly as many people leave the state for the holiday as enter.  It’s all depends on where the turkey is being served,” he said.  

Today (Wednesday) is expected to be the busiest day over the weekend with more than 58.000 vehicles moving through the York Toll Plaza in both directions.  Roughly 31,000 vehicles will pass through the toll plaza in the northbound direction and 27,000 in the southbound direction. 

Sunday will be nearly as busy with more than 54,000 vehicles heading through the plaza; 22,000 northbound and 32,000 southbound.  Heavy traffic volumes are also expected in the Portland area on Friday when the holiday shopping season begins in earnest.

Paradee said that additional Maine State Troopers will be patrolling the highway throughout the weekend and will be on the lookout for speeders and drunken drivers.

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