Mass. readies for holiday travel

Transportation officials say planning ahead and avoiding traffic "hot spots" could make things a lot smoother for Thanksgiving travelers in Massachusetts.

Traffic will be heaviest between Wednesday and Sunday. Some of the worst congestion could be on the Massachusetts Turnpike at Interchange 9, which connects travelers headed to Connecticut and New York to I-84.

Motorists are advised to travel early in the morning or after 8 p.m., if possible.

The state's 18 highway service plazas will offer free coffee from 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night until 5 a.m. the following morning.

People flying through Logan International Airport should leave extra time, since security checkpoints are likely to have long lines.

The MBTA plans to beef up service on the Silver Line to accommodate travelers going to and from Logan.