Rush to the airport under way as long weekend begins

More than 211,000 fliers will descend on O'Hare International Airport today, as Labor Day travelers try to squeeze as much as possible out of the waning summer.

The avalanche of passengers should top 1.4 million between Thursday and Tuesday at both airports, with today expected to be the busiest, the Chicago Department of Aviation announced Thursday. Midway Airport passenger traffic today is predicted to be more than 70,000 fliers.

Overall, numbers of people hitting the roads and airports is up significantly from last year, despite the lagging economy. AAA reported that 34.4 million Americans will take a trip 50 miles or more from home over the long weekend this year compared to 31.3 million in 2009 - an increase of 10 percent.

Nationwide, more people are traveling by car - 31.4 million - this Labor Day than a year ago, when 28.5 million made an auto escape.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority both announced road construction will be suspended over the long weekend in most locations.

And, regardless if your trip is across the country or to visit relatives in the next suburb, national, state and local law enforcement and safety organizations are warning motorists to buckle up and appoint a designated driver.

Late-night patrols will be out in force to conduct roadside safety checks and look for drunken drivers or those not wearing safety belts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminded drivers that 32 percent of deaths in vehicle crashes involve a motorist with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher.

If you're flying this Labor Day, experts advise passengers to allow plenty of time for lineups at O'Hare and Midway, and to check with their airlines about travel to East Coast areas that might be affected by Hurricane Earl.

The Department of Aviation said free jazz concerts will be offered past security checkpoints from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at O'Hare in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5. For children, O'Hare offers a "Kids on the Fly," play space in Terminal 2.