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State: Expect Heavy Traffic On Mass. Pike

Transportation officials are warning motorists to expect heavy traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike Monday as the holiday weekend wraps up.

Highway administrator Frank DePaola says the department has been planning ahead to make sure the busiest toll plazas are fully staffed.

"We put adequate toll staffing in the booths to make sure that the ability of our staff to do transactions is not a hindrance to the traffic," DePaola said.

The highway experienced a 45-mile backup on Friday as people headed west for a peek at fall foliage.

"If available, leave a little bit early or provide that extra time in your travel plans to account for the traffic congestion," DePaola said.

The department is trying to avoid a repeat of the Easter 2009 weekend when long delays caused by understaffed toll plazas angered motorists and led to the resignation of the agency's director.

With reporting from the Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom. 

This program aired on October 8, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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