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Westbound I-10 backed up for miles due to holiday traffic, how drivers react

The long holiday weekend comes to a close and many valley visitors are heading home. 

Caltrans had issued a traffic alert on westbound Interstate 10 from Palm Springs to Banning. Drivers were warned to expect delays due in part to holiday travel.

On 11:30 am Monday, traffic was backed up to Indian Canyon Drive. We also had reports that traffic was backed up heading out of Palm Springs on Highway 111.

Anastacia Thomas visited the valley for a weekend getaway. She said she's traveled on other weekends when traffic was worse. 

"I think because of the time I'm leaving today. I'm expecting about the same thing. Just a little bit of stop and go but I think it should be pretty smooth flowing," said Thomas. "So I think this is surprisingly good."

She headed to the I-10 westbound where traffic was building up near north Indian Canyon Drive. The road was congested, but traffic kept moving slowly. 

Daniel Rodriguez, a valley resident, also hit the roads this weekend. He confirms previous years have been worse in regards to traffic.

 "I want to say last year, it was a lot worse," said Rodriguez. "I wouldn't go through last year's traffic again."

Tripadvisor said 31% of Americans it surveyed planned to go away this weekend. Which is similar to the data found in 2020 and 2019.

The online travel guide The Vacationer said more people chose to travel by car. 

Local resident Sterling Winn, who chose not to travel this holiday, agrees. He said there is more traffic on the valley roadways this year than in years past. 

"A lot of people traveling for the holiday season they like most of them weren't able to do it last year," said Winn.

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Rich Tarpening

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Marian Bouchot

Marian Bouchot is the weekend morning anchor and a reporter for KESQ News Channel 3. Learn more about Marian here.

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