Hectic highways anticipated for the holiday

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The rush to head home for the holidays is on.   

Anyone hitting the highway this weekend, will have plenty of company. 

According to AAA more than 104 million Americans are driving to holiday destinations this year.  

The busiest travel days are forecasted to be December 23, 28, and 30.  

Some people are staying home for the holidays in an effort to avoid traffic. People like Johnny Thompson, who said he will be visiting with his daughter who is also his next-door neighbor.  

“I just have to go next door. All the telephones now, that makes it probably 10 times as worse being on the road,” Thompson said. 

Those who will be driving to their holiday destinations are planning their routes carefully.  

Leland resident Donna Vignogna said she’s visiting a friend in Cary. She’s opting to drive on Christmas Eve and hopefully avoiding some of the congestion on the highways.   

“It gets a little crazy. People get a little crazy out there during the holidays. That’s why I’m choosing to drive on a Sunday,” Vignogna said. 

There will also be people on the roads working to keep everyone safe, like the North Carolina Hwy. Patrol. 

Jon Gurganus, N.C. State Hwy. Patrol  

“DWI’s do increase during the holidays for sure. With increased traffic, they’ll be increased troopers on patrol,” Jon Gurganus with N.C. State Hwy. Patrol said. 

Gurganus said the Hwy. Patrol’s goal isn’t to ticket travelers over the weekend but to ensure everyone gets to and from their holiday destinations safely.  

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is halting holiday construction to keep holiday traffic flowing more smoothly. 

The temporary stoppage will be along major interstates and key North Carolina routes through January 2.