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The upcoming Memorial Day weekend should see the second-highest volume of travelers ever for that holiday, while officials warn of traffic delays of up to an hour on U.S. Highway 40 — plus possible minor delays on Interstates 15 and 215.

Surveys by the AAA travel services company predict that 2.9 million Mountain West residents will travel 50 miles or more away from home this weekend.

That is a 2.1 percent increase over last year. It is the second-highest volume ever, AAA says, and the highest since 2005.

That is "spurred by lower gas prices and growing optimism in the country's economy," said Rolayne Fairclough, AAA Utah spokesperson. "This season's record high travel volume is a good barometer as to what we can expect for the rest of the year."

With the expected jump in travel, the National Safety Council warns the weekend could be deadly — and urges extra caution.

It estimates that 439 people may be killed and an additional 50,500 will be seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes during the long weekend nationally. If the estimate holds, this will be the deadliest Memorial Day holiday since 2009, when 462 people were killed on the nation's roadways.

"Engaging our defensive-driving skills and staying alert can mean the difference between attending cookouts and family parties or spending the evening at the emergency room or worse," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.

Meanwhile, the Utah Department of Transportation said U.S. 40 near Park City will be reduced to one lane in each direction as early as Thursday, with all traffic shifted to eastbound lanes between Exit 4 (Kearns Boulevard) and Jordanelle Reservoir.

U.S. 40 will remain reduced to one lane in each direction through August while crews repave several bridges. Delays from 45 minutes to an hour are expected during peak travel times this weekend, on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Monday from noon to 5 p.m.

UDOT said that work on most construction projects will be suspended during the long holiday weekend, but motorists should still expect minor delays from ongoing restrictions for some major projects.

Among areas where minor delays are possible:

• I-15 between Bangerter Highway and 12300 South. Lanes are shifted and speeds are reduced to 55 mph in the active construction zone. Where safety permits, the speed limit has been restored to 70 mph.

Crews are widening the freeway to six lanes in each direction and placing new concrete pavement from Lehi to Draper.

• I-15 from Farr West to Brigham City. All lanes remain open, but lanes are narrowed and the speed limit has been reduced to 65 mph. Crews are widening I-15 to three lanes in each direction from 2700 North in Farr West to 1100 South in Brigham City.

• I-215 from State Road 201 to 4700 South. All lanes remain open, but traffic is shifted and lanes have been narrowed. Crews are reconstructing the freeway with new concrete, adding auxiliary lanes, and replacing the bridges over SR-201.

The Utah Transit Authority will offer reduced service on Memorial Day for its trains and buses.

On Monday, buses and FrontRunner will operate on Saturday schedules, while TRAX will run on a Sunday schedule. Buses to Park City will not operate. Information about specific routes is available at rideuta.com.

Meanwhile, the Utah Highway Patrol says it will have 1,000 extra shifts by its officers during the next two weeks to focus especially on enforcing seat-belt laws.