Published: July 03, 2008 01:42 pm            

Holiday traveling tips offered

Residents planning on traveling out of town for the holiday weekend are urged to drive safely and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol have released information helpful to travelers.

Officials from ODOT said Interstate 35 will be narrowed in three places over the weekend. Near Purcell both southbound and northbound lanes will be narrowed between Johnson Rd. and Green Ave. Narrowings on I-35 will occur just north of Guthrie and again just north of Perry.

Officials urge drivers to use caution and be alert when entering these areas as speed limits will be reduced.

Both lanes of US Highway 69 will narrow from McAlester to the Indian Nation Turnpike and again just south of Muskogee. Both lanes of I-40 will narrow just east of Hydro and again just east of Checotah.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol has announced eight state police agencies will combine enforcement efforts along Interstate 40 for a twelve-hour period on Saturday, July 5, 2008, for a special “C.A.R.E. Across America” initiative.



This event will run in conjunction with the Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) Fourth of July activity period, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 3 and runs through midnight Sunday, July 6.

State police agencies from Arizona, Arkansas, California, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas will place troopers every fifteen miles along I-40 from coast to coast. State Troopers will saturate 2,547 miles of interstate highway from Barstow, California to Wilmington, North Carolina.

“We want all travelers to know we’re out there for their safety and protection. Troopers across the United States will concentrate their enforcement activities on alcohol-related offenses, speed, and restraint violations,” said Captain Chris West, Director of Public Affairs for the OHP.

“This is a very high-visibility saturation effort which will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5. Motorists are encouraged to call *55 from their cell phones to report aggressive or erratic driving behavior,” West said. “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. So, please buckle up, watch your speed, and don’t drink and drive.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.