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Heading to the coast or L.A. for Thanksgiving? Better leave early

By Brianna Calix
Traffic merges onto southbound Highway 41 between Herndon and Bullard Avenues in Fresno in this 2014 photo. Caltrans and the CHP expect heavy traffic on the highway for Thanksgiving.
Traffic merges onto southbound Highway 41 between Herndon and Bullard Avenues in Fresno in this 2014 photo. Caltrans and the CHP expect heavy traffic on the highway for Thanksgiving. CRAIG KOHLRUSS Fresno Bee file

If you plan on taking Interstate 5 or Highway 41 through Kings County for Thanksgiving travel, you might want to leave early.

The California Department of Transportation and CHP will control traffic on those routes from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday in hopes of alleviating heavy congestion. Traffic control also will be in effect on Bernard Drive just south of Kettleman City.

Vehicles will be directed by Caltrans officials using flags, signals, portable road barriers and cones. Commuters who routinely use those routes should be aware of different traffic patterns meant to better handle the congestion.

Caltrans advises travelers to plan for extra travel time and take alternate routes if possible.

This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Heading to the coast or L.A. for Thanksgiving? Better leave early."

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