CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Now that the Christmas holiday has passed, millions across the nation will start their journey back home. Holiday food safety: How long do leftovers last? That means a busy few days coming on the roads and at airports. AAA states that if you're driving on Thursday, roads are expected to be busiest from noon to 5:00 p.m., which means that you should try to hit the roads before 11:00 a.m. On Friday, the roads should be busiest in the evening. AAA says the rush won't start until after 3:00 p.m., so just try to get your driving done before then.  “MassDOT encourages the public to use our real-time traffic tools before heading to their holiday destinations. MassDOT also wants to remind roadway users to be safe, courteous, and to adhere to traffic laws and regulations,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.  If you're traveling on the MassPike, construction continues this week that's closing lanes on both sides on the stretch that passes near the New York border, between West Stockbridge and Otis. The work happens both overnight and during the day, so expect to slow down in the area. The closures should be done by Friday. Local News Headlines First Day Hikes encourages Massachusetts residents to get outside in 2025 What the colors of the stove flames tell us: East Brookfield fire department LIST: Top places to eat breakfast in western Massachusetts following holiday festivities Businesses that opened and closed in Massachusetts in 2024 WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.