Good travel weather in Northeast, but Long Island travelers should expect complications on getaway day

Here's a message for the tens of millions of travelers hitting the roads, the air and the rails for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend: Expect complications.

In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, there will be checkpoints and patrols on New York City bridges, increased airport bag checks, and bomb-sniffing dogs at Penn Station, officials said.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday sought to reassure the traveling public, saying there are no specific or credible threats to the United States.

Obama reminded Americans to be vigilant, and "if you see something suspicious, say something. That's always helpful."

Otherwise, he said, enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends "and celebrate our blessings."

As for the weather on getaway day, News 12 Long Island meteorologist Rich Hoffman said the forecast calls for "dry weather for travel today," with most of the East Coast clear.

The National Weather Service said it will be sunny Wednesday, with a high near 50. It's a cold morning, with the wind chill between 25 and 35 degrees.

Of the nearly 47 million holiday travelers, the majority of Americans -- 42 million -- will be driving 50 or more miles from home, according to an annual travel survey by the AAA.

There is good news for them: Gas prices will be at their lowest since 2008, according to AAA. The average price of gasoline nationwide is $2.08, 72 cents lower than last year's Turkey Day average.

Travel experts said that driving to airports will take longer this year, mostly because of increased volume. Travel estimates put this year's number of travelers up 300,000 from last year and the most overall since 2007.

The number of people who expect to travel farther than 50 miles from home is 3.8 percent higher than the average for the past 10 years, the AAA survey said.

One travel-monitoring company, Inrix, which provides data for traffic reports across the nation, says the feel of rush hour on Thanksgiving Eve will start four hours earlier, according to a Washington Post report.

Clear weather and lower gas prices aside, here's what to expect if you're getting out the door Wednesday or over the weekend:

** Concerns over terror groups such as the Islamic State led the State Department to issue a travel alert. Americans are urged Americans to "exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation."

** About 3.6 million Americans will be flying to their holiday destinations. The Transportation Security Administration has "doubled down" on security at airports, and wait times have gone up, although not dramatically, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said earlier this week.

** At area bridges and tunnels, law enforcement's layered approach to transportation security means fixed and roving police patrols, close monitoring of cameras and license plate readers, and surveillance by aviation units using thermal imaging.

All of which increases the chances for traffic congestion. This after the AAA survey said the Lincoln Tunnel and the roadways just east of the George Washington Bridge are, respectively, the nation's eighth- and ninth-most clogged roads.

** In subways, police will check bags randomly and swipe them for nitrates or other explosives. And NYPD harbor units will stop unfamiliar boats or those loitering near bridges.

** Rail service providers are also stepping up security heading into their busiest season of the year. Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz said the agency expects to carry roughly as many as the 772,000 customers it carried over Thanksgiving week in 2014, but will do so this year with a "robust security presence."

** On the Long Island Rail Road, which will run 11 extra eastbound trains out of Penn Station on Wednesday, riders will also notice extra police at Penn Station, including in the form of extra MTA Police patrols and canine units.

** In a move designed to ease holiday traffic, the state will temporarily halt highway lane closures caused by road work. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said construction-related closures will be canceled between 6 a.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. the Monday after Thanksgiving. Work may still continue behind concrete barriers or when emergency repairs are needed.

Also, to smooth the drive for motorists on Friday, a busy travel and shopping day, the HOV lane of the Gowanus Expressway and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel is to be open for the morning commute, Cuomo said in a release Wednesday. Thanks to accommodating weather and an improving economy, a high volume of traffic is expected.

The HOV lane "operates inbound from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel," the release said.