Anticipating a smooth Labor Day weekend journey? Brace yourself, as traffic in the NY region is set for turbulence from Thursday onwards.

Labor Day Travel: Prepare for Record-Breaking Traffic and Airport Volume

As the Labor Day weekend approaches, travelers in the New York City metro area are bracing for a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic, with an estimated 4.2 million vehicles expected to use the Port Authority's bridges and tunnels during the travel period.

The Port Authority has announced that it will be suspending all non-emergency repairs and construction projects during the busy travel period to help alleviate congestion. This decision, however, does not provide information about who is responsible for the suspension.

Airports, including JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, and Stewart, are expected to see record-breaking volumes, with Thursday, Friday, and Monday being the busiest days. Passengers are encouraged to arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of their departure time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.

Travelers planning to head out on Thursday or Friday are advised to hit the road early. The best time to start your journey will be before 11 a.m., and even before 8 a.m. if you're heading to the Hamptons. Traffic patterns are shifting, with more people heading out on Thursday before Labor Day rather than Friday.

For those opting for public transportation, the MTA is promising it's the best way to travel during the holiday weekend. Trains will run on a normal weekend schedule on Saturday and Sunday, and then on a weekend/holiday schedule on Monday. Metro-North will run extra trains on its three East of Hudson lines on Friday and "early-getaway" trains on its Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines.

However, Hoboken PATH riders should note their local station will be closed over the holiday weekend for repairs. The station is closing so crews can replace a faulty component from the interlocking system installed during a full-month shutdown in February.

NJ Transit is adding extra service departing from New York, Newark Penn Station, and Hoboken between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday for the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris and Essex, and Port Jervis lines.

The weather forecast for the weekend is predicted to be beautiful, which will contribute to busier roads. To avoid traffic, it's recommended to return to the city earlier in the day on Labor Day itself.

The Long Island Rail Road will operate on a normal Saturday schedule both Saturday and Sunday, and on a holiday schedule Monday, with the Montauk branch running on a Sunday schedule. Travelers are encouraged to plan for additional travel time, prebook parking spaces if driving, or use public transportation to access the airports.

Conditions are expected to stay cool and dry through Labor Day weekend, making it an ideal time for a getaway. With record traffic volumes expected for most of the holiday weekend, it's essential to be patient and prepared for longer wait times at airports and on the roads.

Anticipating a smooth Labor Day weekend journey? Brace yourself, as traffic in the NY region is set for turbulence from Thursday onwards.