ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Thanksgiving and Black Friday signal the start of heavy winter traffic resuming, particularly following last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns.

The American Automobile Association expects the highest single-year increase in Thanksgiving travel since 2005. Nearly 2.2 million Ohioans are estimated to be traveling between Wednesday and Sunday, with almost 90 percent driving to their destinations. As a result, the organization is also predicting congested roadways, particularly Wednesday and Sunday afternoon and evening.

During the busy holiday travel period, AAA expects to respond to more than 400,000 roadside assistance calls. AAA advises motorists to ensure their vehicles have been well-maintained to avoid breakdowns.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be out in force as more motorists take to the roads.

“When it comes to the division itself, one of the most important aspects of the holiday weekend is obviously going to be increasing exponentially, and with that the patrol is going to be making a concerted effort throughout the holiday weekend to be much more visible, to crack down on the primary crash-causing violations such as excessive speed or the distracted driving, or the driving under the influence primarily. Especially with the weekend and the holidays as well,” Sgt. Rocky Hise said.

“We’re expecting a big turnout this year. We’re expecting a lot more people on the roadways getting out, going to see family and friends. As we’ve seen as the year has progressed, people are gradually getting out more and more. It’s definitely been seeing an upward trend,” Hise said.

“What you would see is Wednesday afternoons would be typically busy with people finishing work, and then going home or going to family and friends for a long weekend, and then on the downside of it you would see the Black Friday at work, or even the Saturday or Sunday of that weekend, people traveling home.”

Hise said the patrol will utilize federal overtime dollars to keep troopers present on the roads.

“When it comes to the mission of the Highway Patrol, it’s going to be business as usual, but the increased traffic, so we’re going to increase our presence, our visibility, as much as we can throughout the weekend. We want to make sure people know that we’re out there and make sure people get to where they’re going, to their loved ones, as safely as possible.

“Don’t drive distracted,” he advised. “Stay focused while you’re driving a motor vehicle, and if you’re driving drunk you will get arrested.”

Black Friday is also expected to be a draw.

“We’re really expecting a brisk Black Friday,” Joe Bell, spokesman for the Cafaro Co., parent company of the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, said. “All indications are that there’s a lot of pent-up demand for people who want to get out and do a lot of in-person shopping. On the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, we’ll open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.”

He said the first 250 customers at the food court entrance will receive “swag bags” of coupons and items, sponsored by Trinity Health System. The first people in line will get chocolate bars with codes on the wrapper that can be turned in for prizes.

“Early shoppers are going to get special deals at a variety of merchants,” Bell said. “I think we’re going to be back in line with a lot of the traffic we’ve seen pre-pandemic.”

Bell said retail analysts such as the International Council of Shopping Centers and the National Retail Federation suggest holiday sales will increase. He said an economist with PNC Bank believes sales could be up as high as 20 percent compared to 2019.

“Some of that has to do with higher prices this year, but most of it’s being driven by people wanting to buy more,” Bell said.

Wendy Anderson, director of the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce said Small Business Saturday is also being encouraged among the smaller vendors following the Black Friday rush. Anderson said there has been no opportunity to coordinate in the city, and each business will hold its own specials.