The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) warns motorists to expect heavy traffic on I-70 on Sunday, especially between Wentzville and Columbia.

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MoDOT says traffic Sunday will likely “increase dramatically”, as people head home from Thanksgiving and as college students return to school. MoDOT’s Sally Oxenhandler says the peak travel times on Sunday will be from 3 to 9 p.m., based on last year’s volume.

“There were times during peak travel times that the average mile-per-hour speed was about 35 miles per hour,” says Oxenhandler.

MoDOT expects heavy congestion along I-70 on Sunday, especially the stretch between Columbia, which is in central Missouri, and Wentzville, which is in St. Charles County.

“And just want to remind everybody to either leave a little bit early, allow extra time or possibly even consider taking an alternate route like Route 50,” Oxenhandler says.

Oxenhandler notes students Sunday will be driving back to school at the many colleges and universities in mid-Missouri.

You are encouraged to check modot.org during the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Oxenhandler says you can also call MoDOT’s toll-free number, which is 1-888-ASK-MODOT. The number is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.