It is the last warm weather holiday of the year, and many are predicting a busy Labor Day weekend, with motorists taking to the roadways for one last vacation.

"We're anticipating this Labor Day travel season will be busier than last year," said Bevi Norris, spokeswoman for AAA East Central region. "We're predicting that holiday weekend travel will be up 2.2 percent over last year, with 34.1 million travelers in the country."

Norris said the increase in travel can be attributed to an upturn in the national economy.

Traveling may not only be crowded, it may also be expensive: Norris said

gas prices across the country are hovering at $1.87 per gallon. "But really it doesn't seem to have an impact at all on travel," Norris said. "People tend to follow through with their travel plans in spite of the price."

Law enforcement agencies plan increased patrols over the weekend. Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Carl Roark said throughout Lawrence County, troopers will pay particular attention to impaired drivers.

"We're planning saturation patrols with a number of hours for officers working overtime for the specific focus of apprehending impaired drivers," Roark said. "This is in conjunction with the 'you drink, you drive, you lose campaign.'"

Roark said he encourages travelers to use their safety belts and plan on having a designated driver of they plan to consume alcohol.

For Lawrence Countians, travel locally could be hindered somewhat by road construction projects.

State Route 93

is

reduced

to

one

lane

just north of State Route 373, 15 miles north of Ironton, for a bridge replacement project. Ohio Department of Transportation District Nine officials said traffic is being maintained with the

use of

temporary traffic signals, and an 10-foot width restriction is in effect. Completion should be some time after the Labor Day weekend.

State Route

243

is

closed

at

its

junction

with

State Route

7

in

Rome

Township for reconstruction of the State Route 243/State Route 7 intersection. While it is closed, traffic is

being

detoured

by

way

of

State Route 7 to Beulah Lane.

The route is expected to reopen Saturday.

In neighboring Scioto County, work continues on the U.S. Grant Bridge linking downtown Portsmouth and South Shore, Ky.

Work also continues on a resurfacing

project

on

U.S. 52. Contractors are working

on the roadway from the western corporation limit of Portsmouth to just west of County Road 49 (Carey's Run Road).

Throughout construction, traffic will be

maintained

in one lane in each direction when crews are working in the construction

zone;

lane

restrictions

will

be

lifted

for

the holiday weekend. The scheduled

completion date is Oct. 31.