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- Craig Wilkins
651-366-4270
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Minnesota Department of
Transportation
Office of Communications
395 John Ireland Blvd.
Mail Stop 150
St. Paul, MN 55155-1899
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Use 511 service when planning holiday weekend travels
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges motorists to use the 511 Travel Information Service when making Labor Day weekend travel plans.
The service is free and available on the Web at www.511mn.org or by calling 5-1-1.
"Using the 511 system can help travelers plan their routes to avoid detours and other construction-related delays to save time and plan a safe, low-stress trip," said Bob Winter, Mn/DOT's operations director. The 511 system also reports current weather and related roadway conditions.
"Traffic during this year's Labor Day weekend may be more intense than a traditional one in the Twin Cities metro area because the State Fair, the holiday weekend and the Republican National Committee event in St. Paul will overlap with the return of university and high school students to their campuses," Winter said.
Because of the confluence of events, Mn/DOT advises motorists to plan their trips to avoid peak periods of congestion whenever possible.
"Whether it's a sudden storm or a long-planned project or event, using the 511 system and staying alert to other changes can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a very unpleasant one," Winter said.
The agency has scores of highway improvement projects under way. Although nearly all of them will close during the three-day weekend, Mn/DOT advises drivers to use extra caution in work zones because they may still include lane crossovers, narrow lanes or irregular driving surfaces.
Mn/DOT clearly marks work zones urges drivers to follow posted lane changes, detours or other changes in traffic patterns. Mn/DOT also urges motorists to observe the following:
* Follow posted speed limits; fines may double in work zones
* Avoid using cell phones
* Allow extra space between vehicles
* Drive sober.
For more information about highway projects, visit www.mndot.gov.
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