Millions Take To The Road, Skies For Labor Day Weekend

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The unofficial end of summer is here.

But there was some good news Friday for drivers as they fueled up for that last road trip of summer.

The national average price of gasoline this Labor Day weekend will be its lowest at this time of year since 2004, a result of low oil prices and a quiet hurricane season that has allowed refineries to churn out gasoline and diesel.

The national average price of gasoline fell to $2.44 Thursday, nearly $1 a gallon cheaper than last year.

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That means drivers will save about $15 on a typical fill-up. This Friday through Monday, Americans will spend $1.6 billion less than last year, according to an analysis by the Oil Price Information Service. They are expected to drive more miles, encouraged by low fuel prices, but not enough to burn up their savings.

Drivers filling up at the Vince Lombardi rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike were very happy about the prices, which dropped seven cents Friday morning.

"I did a little happy dance," one driver told 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet.

"It's great, better than last year. I believe last year was in the 3's," Jocelyn Nelson told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.

To help make the ride a little easier, Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted temporary lane closures on road and bridge construction projects on New York State Highways for the holiday weekend. It will last until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs, CBS2 reported.

All construction and paving on state roads and highways is also suspended in Connecticut and is scheduled to resume at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Only emergency work will be performed.

Tri-State area airports will also be busy this weekend as people take to the skies to sneak in a trip for the last long weekend of the summer.

More than 14.2 million people are expected to fly over the seven days surrounding the Labor Day holiday, a 3 percent increase from last year, according to Airlines for America, the industry's trade and lobbying group. Friday is expected to be the busiest day to fly.

The US Travel Association estimates driving and flying will generate $13.5 billion in spending this weekend. That's 2 percent more than last year.

Local public transportation transit agencies are offering extra service to help customers get a jump start on the weekend. Click on any of the following links for details: NJ TRANSIT | MTA | Port Authority.

For those staying close to home, police will be out in force making sure the weekend is a safe one.

With good weather in the forecast, boaters are expected to crowd the waters this weekend. On Long Island, extra marine patrols will be out, making sure boat pilots aren't drinking. Officers will also be ticketing anyone who is speeding, and looking to see if passengers are wearing their life jackets. Islip Marine Patrol says they've mounted nine search and rescue missions this summer for stranded or sinking boats.

Nassau County is also increasing police patrols on the roads to look out for drunk drivers.

"Police officers will be targeting drunk drivers and looking to prevent the kind of senseless alcohol-related accidents that often occur during a holiday weekend," Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said. "Chances are if you drive drunk this weekend, you will be arrested. I urge everyone to be responsible and to plan accordingly not just this holiday weekend but always so that you and others return home safely to their loved ones."

New Jersey State Police will have 200 additional patrols on the lookout for intoxicated and aggressive drivers as well as helping broken down motorists. The state police marine and aviation units will also be patrolling waterways.

New York State parks and beaches will have one last hurrah as another successful summer comes to a close.

"We had a nice cool sunny summer," State Park spokesman George Gorman told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs. "When it's too hot it's oppressive, people stay in air conditioners. They don't want to go to the beaches, they don't want to get all sweltered even more."

Gorman predicts once the numbers are tallied, it will be one of the best summers they've had in recent years.

"Jones Beach saw some outstanding crowds, hundreds of thousands of people enjoying the parks, Robert Moses it was nearly at capacity several days and sometimes it did fill to capacity," he said. "It was a great summer."

On Friday in Jones Beach, the crashing waves kept most people close to the shore thanks to a riptide warning, TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported. But many were just glad to be there.

"What I'm looking at is Labor Day weekend, and any day not working is a good day," said Maggie Zinck of Franklin, New Jersey.

Some visitors from China also came to Jones Beach Friday, and their tour guide said they loved the fall-like weather.

"It's a little windy, but it's pretty nice," said tour guide Evelyn Png. "The weather is pretty nice; not so hot."

Also on the beach Friday were a group of women who had been friends since childhood, and who decide every year at the last minute where to celebrate Labor Day.

"Last day of summer, we hadn't been out here. I guess we hadn't been out here in over 30 years," said Mary Ann White of Yonkers. "Just one of those things we had to do, so we're sticking it out."

Meanwhile, Coney Island in Brooklyn celebrated the long weekend with a fireworks show Friday night, and a mustache competition on the boardwalk Saturday. And of course, the rides will be rolling at Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park all weekend.

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