Roads likely to be filled with Utahns over holiday

Gasoline prices are down, somewhat, the economy is apparently breathing again and the weather report calls for high temperatures in the low 90s with mostly clear skies.

It's little wonder, then, the American Automobile Association predicts Utahns — and their fellow Americans — will hit the road in record numbers for the Fourth of July holiday.

"July Fourth is traditionally the strongest travel period of the summer," said AAA Utah spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough. "Increased consumer confidence and Americans' desire to travel seem to have overcome the highest-ever July 4 gas prices to take vacations that may have been postponed due to the Iraq war and surrounding concerns about travel."

The Utah average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is now $1.94, up from a relative bargain of $1.50 a year ago. But the current statewide average is 10 cents a gallon less than for the Memorial Day weekend and six cents a gallon less than on June 15.

That price break, fueled in part by slightly lower oil prices and increased production at U.S. refineries, should be enough to inspire more people to travel this weekend. AAA predicts 39.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from their home during the vacation period. That's an increase of 3.4 percent from the estimated 38.2 million who traveled last year.

Salt Lake City International Airport also is expected to be busy this weekend.

Randall Berg, director of operations at the airport, said the number of passengers is expected to be up from recent Fourth of July weekends.

"The loads appear to be heavy, but nothing that's not manageable," he said. "We'll have additional staff in the terminal area over the weekend, obviously, to manage any lines that we may get.

"The total passenger numbers are up all around (the country). . . . The industry is a little stronger than it was and I would assume the loads will be slightly larger than the last couple of years."

AAA reports 4.6 million people — about 12 percent of all weekend travelers — will go by plane. That's an increase of 4.5 percent from the 4.4 million who flew during last year's Independence Day holiday.

A total of 34.4 million, or 87 percent, of those expected to travel this weekend will go by automobile, according to AAA. And many of them will find unleaded gasoline prices well under $2 a gallon.