Labor Day Weekend: What You Should Know

Labor Day weekend is here and we've compiled a list of things you may want to know whether you're sticking around or leaving town.

Royal Oak Weather

• Friday: Mostly sunny with a high of 93 degrees and a 40 percent chance of rain at night. 
• Saturday: Expect a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms with a high of 84 degrees and a low of 64 degrees at night.
• Sunday: Partly sunny skies with a high of 78 degrees and a 40 percent chance of showers. The low at night is expected to be around 55.
• Monday, Labor Day: Expect a high of 69 degrees with partly sunny skies, and a slight chance of showers.

Forecast compiled from National Weather Service.

What's Open, Closed

All will be closed on Labor Day. Theis closed Friday through Monday for Arts, Beats & Eats and the holiday.  The will operate a mobile unit out of the on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Post Office is closed on Monday. The lobby will be available 24 hours.

Traffic

Traffic on I-75 will be scattered because most people leave for weekend vacations on different days, said Robert Morosi, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation. However, the heaviest traffic is expected to be on southbound I-75 on Labor Day between mid-afternoon and early evening, Morosi said.

In Oakland County, Crooks Road will be down to one lane in each direction over M-59, according to MDOT. I-96 has three lanes open in each direction between Milford Road and Kent Lake Road, with a traffic shift and reduced speeds posted. Also, the northbound and southbound Kent Lake Road ramps to westbound I-96 are closed. M-5 right lanes are closed in each direction between Purdue Street and Eight Mile Road. M-59 has two lanes open in each direction between Crooks Road and Opdyke Road with a traffic shift and reduced speeds. Additionally, the eastbound M-59 ramp to I-75 northbound is closed.

MDOT will suspend some road projects.

Travel to Canada

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds travelers planning trips across the border to make sure they have proper documents and to anticipate periods of heavy traffic in conjunction with the Labor Day holiday.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate your return into the United States. CBP offers four tips:

Tip #1 – Travelers are encouraged to prepare for cross border activity in advance and can obtain local border traffic conditions by visiting the travel section of the CBP Website: http://www.cbp.gov. Information is updated hourly and is useful in planning trips and identifying periods of light traffic/short waits. During periods of heavy travel, border crossers may wish to consider alternative times or routes.

Tip #2 – Travelers should obtain a “Know Before You Go” brochure (available on the website), which contains valuable guidance, including duty exemptions and information regarding restricted and prohibited merchandise.

Tip #3 – Travelers should have their approved crossing documents available for inspection prior to their return into the U.S., and be prepared to declare all items acquired out of the country.

Tip #4 – Do not attempt to bring fruits, meats, dairy/poultry products or firewood into the United States from Canada without checking to see if they are permitted.

What to Do

Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is in downtown Royal Oak Friday through Monday. See Patch's

If you're looking for something different to do, check this week's Get Out column.