Arizona motorists planning a road trip over Labor Day weekend should be prepared for hot weather and busy highways at times while Sky Harbor Airport officials remind travelers just how busy things can be at this time of year.

First, the Arizona Department of Transportation will not be scheduling any full highway closures for construction along state highways during the extended holiday weekend.

But ADOT recommends drivers check their vehicles for maintenance issues and pack some extra items as a safety precaution.

ADOT and its contractors will hold off on any full highway closures from Friday afternoon, Sept. 2, until early Tuesday, Sept. 6. However, drivers should still allow extra travel time and be prepared for lane restrictions in some existing work zones, transportation officials said.

Some advice from ADOT:

• Busiest times for state highway travel over the holiday weekend are expected to be Friday afternoon into the early evening hours for “getaway travel” as well as Monday afternoon when many travelers will be returning home. Interstate 17 and State Route 87 are usually among the busiest highways over Labor Day weekend.
• Be ready for unscheduled highway closures due to disabled vehicles, crashes or other incidents, such as wildfires. Plan for hot and potentially stormy weather in areas, stay alert and bring along essential items in case of a stop in traffic. More ADOT information about summer travel, adverse weather and safety trips can be found here.
• Motorists should pack extra drinking water and other items, including blankets, a first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, a fully charged cell phone and charger, snacks, baby diapers if necessary and a small tool kit.
• Allow extra time for existing work zones. For example, southbound Interstate 17 is narrowed to one lane in separate areas for a pavement improvement project along the 30-mile-stretch south of Flagstaff. The southbound I-17 on-ramp at Munds Park is closed for the project. A detour is in place.
• Also, on SR 89A in Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona, traffic is alternating one direction at a time in the “switchbacks” area due to a highway improvement project. Drivers can expect delays in the area.

Arizonans headed out of state for the weekend by air should know that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has recently ranked the 11^th-busiest airport in the world and ninth busiest in the U.S. for passenger traffic, according to statistics released by Airports Council International.

Sky Harbor offers these tips:

• Remember to check flight status before coming to the airport. Those flying domestically should arrive at least two hours prior to flight departure and three hours if traveling internationally.
• Reserve parking. Visit: skyharbor.com/parking or call the 24-hour parking hotline at 602-273-4545.
• View security checkpoint wait times on skyharbor.com or on one of the flight information display boards in each terminal.
• Look for airport navigators dressed in purple.  Navigator volunteers throughout the airport by providing directions, information and other assistance.
• Those who are picking up someone from the airport or dropping someone off can avoid traffic by using the 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station. It offers a free option to get to and from the terminals and to avoid roadway traffic and curb congestion. Visit: skyharbor.com/PHXSkyTrain.

For more travel tips: https://www.skyharbor.com/BeforeTraveling/TravelTips.​