TL Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Cars drive on U.S. 40 in Belmont County Tuesday. Officials expect traffic to increase as the Fourth of July holiday approaches.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE — About 70 million people plan to travel for this year’s Fourth of July across the United States, including 3.3 million Ohioans.
AAA predicts the busiest days for road travel will be July 3, when people are traveling to their destinations, and July 7, when people are returning home. This is a record year for July 4 travel, said Kara Hitchens, AAA’s public affairs manager.
Hitchens offered safety tips for traveling during the holidays. It’s important to have vehicles checked before traveling to avoid the hassle of being stuck on the side of the road and to eliminate any road safety concerns due to damage to the car, she said. If people are planning to fly, she suggests downloading the airline’s app to make sure they’re notified of any delays or cancellations.
Lauren Borell, public information officer for Ohio Department of Transportation District 11, expects increased traffic on Interstate 70 in Belmont County and on Interstate 77, U.S. 22, U.S. 250 and Ohio 7 this year.
Wednesday and Sunday are the days when traffic is expected to be heaviest between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., she said.
Expect road closures and traffic this year, but Borell said ODOT is working closely with contractors to minimize traffic impacts as much as possible during the holidays by removing lane closures, especially on interstates and in any work zones that can be temporarily removed to allow for increased traffic flow.
Motorists can find traffic advisories throughout Ohio, including Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties, on ODOT’s Traffic Advisories webpage at transportation.ohio.gov.
The most popular areas for locals this holiday are outdoor recreation options, including the Zion Retreat & RV Center in Flushing. The refuge is fully booked for all of its campsites and cabins for the upcoming weekend, according to Jackee Pugh, executive director of Belmont County Tourism. Pugh also believes Barkcamp State Park is nearly full as well.
“People like to go out, have campfires, watch fireworks,” she says “and just, you know, to really enjoy that summer holiday tradition of the 4th of July with your hot dogs and hamburgers over the campfire.”
Officers will be conducting their regular patrols throughout the weekend, according to Chief Deputy James Zusack of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office. While traffic will increase and larger crowds will be moving through the county, the officers’ daily routine will remain the same.
He said the office’s call volume increases during these holidays, meaning there are higher service calls, domestic calls, fireworks calls and noise complaints. MPs will be checking in with small businesses to make sure they are accommodating the increased number of people stopping at gas stations while traveling.
Zusack said that while the number of calls is increasing, it is not excessive and that if the office needs additional resources, it has them available.
Deputies are also receiving calls from residents about pets and livestock in distress due to the noise of the fireworks, so they are advising residents to take precautions with livestock and keep pets indoors.
“Our office hopes that everyone has a safe holiday and we must not ruin anyone’s holiday by doing something wrong.” he said. “That’s not what we want to do. But if we have to do it, we’ll do it, but we just wish everyone a happy 4th of July from the safety of our office.”
People can expect to see an increased presence of state troopers on Interstates 70 and 470, as well as major state highways such as Ohio 7 and U.S. 40, said Sergeant Brittany Brannan of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s St. Clairsville post.
A holiday reporting period will be in place, meaning increased visibility for soldiers will occur from midnight July 3 through July 7, she said.
Traffic stops will be stepped up, waiting for impaired drivers. Those stops are the primary focus, but they don’t change the officers’ daily routine. Officers’ daily traffic stops include looking for distracted driving, speeding, reckless operation of vehicles and seat belt use, all of which are important factors, Brannan said.
Police overtime is funded by the federal government with money that comes into the state, she said. But federal overtime can be used for specific tasks. For the July 4 reporting period, the overtime being counted is primarily for drunk drivers and speeding enforcement.
Highway patrol units are being enhanced during the holidays to provide greater visibility and presence to increase public safety on the roads, Brannan said.
The St. Clairsville State Highway Patrol Post is responsible for covering Belmont and Monroe counties.
Brannan stressed the importance of designating a sober driver after celebrating the holiday and removing any distractions while driving.
“We simply ask that if you wish to participate in the July 4th festivities, please be responsible and designate a sober driver, or use a rideshare app available in your area, or a taxi service.” she says. “Of course, put your phones down while driving to avoid any additional distractions in the vehicle and, as always, fasten your seat belt.”
