news-record.com

What a difference a year can make, at least when figuring how much it will cost to travel somewhere for the last holiday of the summer.

During Labor Day weekend in 2008, the statewide price of self-serve, regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.60 per gallon, reports AAA Carolinas. This year, AAA Carolinas reported Tuesday that the travel agency expects the North Carolina average price of gas to be more than $1 per gallon less than it was one year ago, or about $2.52 per gallon.

The High Point-area average for Labor Day weekend is predicted to be $2.48 per gallon, down from $3.60 per gallon during the Labor Day holiday season last year.

AAA estimates that 1,017,000 North Carolinians are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this Labor Day holiday, an increase of 12.5 percent from Memorial Day this year.

''It means people really want to get away for the last holiday of the summer, despite the fact that most schools are already in session. It helps that hotels, airlines and entertainment venues are offering discounts -- some specific to this weekend, some ongoing," said David Parsons, president of AAA Carolinas.

The N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most road construction activities in the state during the Labor Day holiday to help ease traffic delays. Most construction projects along interstates, state highways and U.S. routes will be suspended from 4 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Two exceptions to the opening of all traffic lanes are in the Piedmont. One of three lanes will be closed on Interstate 85 at the interchange with N.C. 62 at Exit 113 near High Point because of construction of the U.S. 311 Bypass. No work will occur during the holiday, but the right lane in each direction of the section of I-85 will remain closed, the DOT reports.

Also, one lane of U.S. 220 South at the Randolph-Montgomery county line will be closed because of construction of rest areas. No work will happen during the holiday, but the right lane in each direction will remain closed, the DOT said.