"It's been a breeze:" Few problems reported day before Thanksgiving; one of the busiest days for travel
MILWAUKEE -- The day before Thanksgiving is always one of the busiest travel days of the year -- with plenty hitting the road and the air en route to their Thanksgiving destinations.
For those who got started early enough on Wednesday, November 25th, things went relatively smoothly.
"It`s been a breeze," Caroline Dobler said.
"I left at 6 this morning and it hasn`t been bad at all," Scott Reid said.
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport officials were expecting about 21,000 passengers on Wednesday -- just slightly more than the 19,000 to 20,000 that go through the airport on an average day.
"While the leisure travel picks up during the holiday season, the business travel drops off -- so it`s great because it makes it very close to a normal day here. It makes it a very easy travel experience for our passengers," Ryan McAdams, Mitchell Airport spokesman said.
Passengers arriving in the afternoon found the travel experience and festive atmosphere didn't hurt the mood either.
"Easy peasey. I love this airport. You do such a fabulous job for Christmas," Dobler said.
McAdams said the busiest arrival time would likely be between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, plenty of drivers would be hitting the road during those hours as well.
General Mitchell International Airport
Drivers would be joined on the road by officials with the Southeast Wisconsin OWI Task Force -- on the lookout for impaired drivers.
"I wouldn`t put it on par with St. Patrick`s Day or New Year`s -- but it`s very close. It`s a night where people are coming together to celebrate," Lt. Paul Leist with the Wauwatosa Police Department said.
If you're planning to be out drinking on Wednesday or over the holiday weekend, police ask that you please have a designated driver -- or arrange for a safe ride home.
If you're impaired and are thinking about driving yourself, officials say you should expect to be caught.
"We will stop, test, arrest and lock up impaired drivers as necessary," Lt. Leist said.
Travel
Members of the Southeast Wisconsin OWI Task Force will have the area well-covered, including side streets and freeways, and they'll be out until the early morning hours.
If you don't want to be pulled over -- be sure to plan ahead.
Buses and trains are also seeing an increase in passengers this week.
The Intermodal Station in downtown Milwaukee was busy on Wednesday -- but officials say Sunday, November 29th will be the busiest day.
Amtrak
"A lot of people try to get away from work early -- maybe on the Monday, Tuesday Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but about everybody needs to be back by Monday, so Sunday is even busier and you'll be seeing that Wednesday and Sunday if you did not get a ticket yet, you might have to be a little flexible," Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman said.
Amtrak officials are reminding folks about their new late night trains to and from Chicago. Those trains run every Saturday night.
CLICK HERE to access General Mitchell International Airport's website for arrivals, departures, security information and more.
CLICK HERE to access Amtrak.com.