Despite gasoline prices that are roughly $1.40 per gallon lower than last year's, AAA is predicting that fewer motorists will take to the highways for the holiday weekend.

Those who do will enjoy a respite from some of the road construction that has seemed to spring up at every turn, fueled in part by the federal economic stimulus law.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike are suspending most construction work for the weekend.

The turnpike ordered its contractors to have all lanes open by 3 p.m. Wednesday and to keep them that way until 6 a.m. Tuesday, spokesman Carl DeFebo said.

The turnpike expects 2 million vehicles across its system from yesterday through Monday. Peak travel times began last night -- "people leave a day early thinking they'll get a jump on traffic, but everyone has the same idea," Mr. DeFebo said -- and Sunday afternoon and evening.

Cpl. Rick Dean of state police Troop T, which patrols the turnpike, said despite all lanes being open, "motorists should still watch out for slow-moving traffic and heavy volumes ... through Sunday. When driving in heavy traffic, turn on your headlights, maintain speed and keep sufficient distance from the vehicle ahead -- don't tailgate."

Real-time information about turnpike travel conditions is available from the Turnpike Roadway Information Program by visiting www.paturnpike.com or calling 1-866-976-TRIP (8747).

PennDOT won't close lanes on the parkways this weekend, as it has for a variety of preservation projects most weekends this season, but some major-project restrictions will remain in place, spokesman David Pritt said.

That includes the northbound closure of Route 28 at Etna, a single-lane inbound closure on the Parkway East from the turnpike to near the Penn Hills interchange, restrictions on Steubenville Pike at the Parkway West and full closure of the westbound McKees Rocks Bridge.

Port Authority will operate normal weekday service today and on a holiday schedule tomorrow and Sunday, with two-car trains on the Light Rail Transit system tomorrow to accommodate those attending the Downtown fireworks. Holiday service operates every 25 minutes on the 42S South Hills Village via Beechview route and every 50 minutes on 47L Library.

Extra buses are scheduled to operate tomorrow evening on the West Busway and such high-volume routes as 51C Carrick and 61C McKeesport-Homestead. Larger articulated buses will serve East Busway All Stops, 86B Frankstown, 71A Negley and 71D Hamilton.

Several "floater" buses will be available for special trips as needed, authority spokesman Jim Ritchie said. Also, a bus shuttle will operate between the Mon Incline stations starting at 7 p.m. to augment incline service.

Travelers heading east toward Washington, D.C., will encounter construction and lane restrictions on Interstate 70 between Breezewood and the Maryland line that could cause delays.

Lane restrictions also are in place on two stretches of Interstate 79 in Crawford County.

The Ohio Turnpike will remove temporary lane closures by noon today, spokeswoman Lauren Hakos said. The only restrictions remaining for the weekend are at ongoing construction sites on a 2.7-mile eastbound stretch in Summit County, south of Cleveland.

AAA predicted the number of Americans traveling on vacation will decrease 1.9 percent from last year, when gasoline cost more than $4 per gallon. It said about 37.1 million people will go 50 or more miles from home, compared with 37.8 million last year. The 2008 total was 10.5 percent below the 2007 number.

The auto club said uncertainty about the economy, unemployment and declining incomes were putting the brakes on some travel plans.

"Many Americans remain cautious about the outlook for their personal finances and these attitudes are reflected in the slight decline in travel we are forecasting for the upcoming holiday weekend," said Jim Lehman, senior vice president of AAA East Central.

"Those who do vacation this summer will find unprecedented discounts and special offers. If you can afford to go, this summer is a smart time to travel," he said.

Although airlines will account for only 5 percent of July 4 travel, the industry is expected to see a 4.9 percent increase in leisure bookings because of declining airfares and pent-up demand among those who haven't taken vacations for awhile, AAA said.

It projects a 2.6 percent decline in auto trips from 33.4 million last year to 32.6 million in 2009.

The average price of a gallon of unleaded gas this week was $2.62, down 8 cents from the week before. At this time last year, prices hit an all-time record high of $4.02, AAA reported.

According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, the lowest average published airfares over the holiday weekend are expected to decrease 16 percent from last year. Car rental rates are up 5 percent to an average of $51 per day. Hotel rates are expected to average about 12 percent less than last year.