Iowa motorists who want to avoid the high stress of traffic-packed interstates during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday might consider changing up their departure time, if they can be flexible. Triple-A-Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says the motor club’s research helps to determine what windows of time will be the most hectic for highway travel, versus some better options. “From lunchtime until about 9 PM is going to be the busiest time on Thursday of Memorial Day weekend,” Ortner says. “Friday, if you can hit the road early on Friday morning, you’ll definitely beat some of the increased traffic. And the same on Saturday, if you can hit the road earlier in the morning, you’ll avoid those higher levels of concentration between noon and five.” Projections show traffic congestion will be heaviest both Thursday and Friday between 3 and 6 P-M, so Ortner says avoid those times, if possible.
