Fuel prices aren't the only thing to look out for this Memorial Day weekend

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

Byron Gutierrez has traditionally spent Memorial Day weekend with his family in Wisconsin. “Anywhere there’s a lake,” he says.

But not this year. With gasoline prices just shy of $4, the Rockford resident can’t afford it.

“We’ll just barbecue at the house, I guess,” Gutierrez said.

That’s the trend nationally, as fewer people will travel for Memorial Day this year, AAA Chicago predicts.

Almost 37.9 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home, a drop of 360,000 or 0.9 percent, AAA reports. That’s the first decrease since 2002 — most of them motorists.

“The main reason more people are staying home this year is the high gas prices,” said AAA Chicago spokeswoman Nicole Niemi.

But there will still be more people traveling this weekend than any Memorial Day weekend before 2007, Niemi said. If you’re one of the millions, here’s what you need to know.

Record gas prices could get worse
The national average for regular unleaded gasoline hit a record $3.80 a gallon today, according to AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com, up 19 percent from this time last year. The Illinois average was a record $3.98, while the Rockford area average was $3.91.

Gas prices often increase heading into holiday weekends in response to increased demand. Last year, Illinois prices rose an average of six cents the week before Memorial Day. If that happens again this year, motorists in many parts of the state — including Rockford — will be paying $4 a gallon. They already are in the Chicago area.

Watch for construction
Motorists will find their share of orange cones and barrels on area highways this year.

On the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, all traffic will be shifted to the westbound side of the road this week between the South Beloit toll plaza and the Kishwaukee River. Crews are widening the road this summer.

The Illinois Tollway will limit lane closures this weekend, maintaining two lanes of traffic in each direction on Interstate 90. Construction zone speed limits will be in effect at all times though, even when workers aren’t present.

The same rule applies for other major road projects in the area.

State crews are rebuilding the I-39 bridges over the Kishwaukee River south of Rockford. It’s still unclear how many lanes will be open this weekend, said John Wegmeyer, project implementation engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Traffic could have all four lanes open for the weekend or just two, so be prepared to slow down.

IDOT also is repairing bridges along the U.S. 20 bypass in Rockford. The bridges over Simpson and Prairie roads could be cut to one lane in each direction at times.

Watch for police, also
Even with a decrease in motorists this weekend, Illinois State Police will still be out in force

Officers will be watching for those speeding, changing lanes erratically, following too closely or not wearing seat belts, said Trooper Brent Massingill of State Police District 16.

In construction zones, state police will park a van equipped with a radar gun and camera. If you’re caught speeding in a construction zone, it’ll take a picture of your license plate and police will send you a $375 ticket.

Airports to be crowded, expensive
Almost 4.4 million people — 11 percent of holiday travelers — will fly this weekend, AAA reports. That’s a decrease of 20,000 or 0.5 percent over last year.

Airfares over Memorial Day weekend are expected to be 8 percent higher than last year, with an average of $179, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.

For the third year in a row, Chicago O’Hare International Airport is expected to be the busiest airport over the holiday weekend, according to online travel company Orbitz. The top Memorial Day destinations include Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, New York and Honolulu.

“As major airports, like Chicago O’Hare, are inundated with travelers this Memorial Day weekend, vacationers are advised to allow extra time at the airport and to check in online,” said Bill Partridge, Orbitz air traffic analyst.

But you don’t have to leave extra time if traveling through Chicago Rockford International Airport, officials say, even though many of the six flights departing Friday are packed.

Other things to cost more
Car-rental rates are expected to be 45 percent higher than last year, up to $45 a day, AAA reports.

Hotel rates are mixed. AAA 3 Diamond hotels are expected to be 7 percent less than last year, with travelers spending an average of $162 per night. However, AAA 2 Diamond hotels will cost an average of $112 per night, nine percent more than a year ago.

Will travel decrease this summer?
AAA’s Niemi said the drop in Memorial Day travelers doesn’t necessarily mean there will be less people on the road this summer.

“Gas prices have been so high for so long that people are planning for it and making accommodations in their budget,” she said. “They may be cutting our Memorial Day or Labor Day trips. They may say, ‘We’re going to barbecue at home for Memorial Day because we’re going to Florida in the summer.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff writer Thomas V. Bona may be contacted at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.

Mobil station still closed, but other options available
The ExxonMobil fuel station on the westbound side of the Belvidere Oasis on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (Interstate 90) remains closed for gas and diesel sales, though the store and restrooms are open.

Westbound drivers in need of fuel can access local area fuel stations off the tollway via the U.S. 20 interchange in Hampshire, the Genoa Road interchange in Belvidere or the State Street interchange in Rockford. No tolls are required for westbound drivers exiting and reentering the tollway at these locations.

Resources for weekend travelers
autoclubgroup.com/chicago/automotive/: Find traffic and construction reports, as well as fuel prices at more than 85,000 stations nationwide.

gettingaroundillinois.com/: The Illinois Department of Transportation’s site for road construction and other maps.

gcmtravel.com/gcm/maps_chicago.jsp: Real-time traffic congestion maps from the Chicago and Milwaukee regions.

fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp: The Federal Aviation Administration’s site monitoring delays at major airports.

waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html: Estimated wait times at airport security checkpoints.