Those using the turnpike near the Litchfield mile marker (91), be warned, you many run into slight delays during the morning rush.

The Maine Turnpike Authority will be closing the southbound lane for the rest of the week between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. for road work.

For those working the late shift, give yourself a few extra minutes to get to work; the National Weather Service projects the Augusta area will get freezing rain, with rain and above-freezing temperatures going into tomorrow.

Work on the turnpike has finished for the day, ensuring a smooth commute home, officials said this afternoon.

Southbound road work is being done on the turnpike at mile markers 91 in Litchfield and 107 in Hallowell. Workers wrapped it up at 3 p.m. today, according to officials.

Augusta area law enforcement agencies say the roads around the capital city are clear and dry for the commute home tonight; no traffic accidents have been reported for the afternoon.

The good news is, gas prices in Maine have started to dip below $3. The bad news is, you can only get them if you're in the Bangor area.

Gas prices for our northern neighbors has finally fallen to $2.98, a far cry from the $3.10 and $3.11 we've seen around our area.

For those still looking to save a few cents at the pump, check out these local stations:

$3.07 — Exxon, 183 Capitol St. in Augusta

$3.09 — Dead River, 321 Maine Ave. in Farmington

$3.17 — Citgo, 465 Kennedy Memorial Dr. in Waterville

For the commute home tonight, expect an easy ride. No traffic accidents have been reported in the area as of this afternoon.

Though there’s talk of precipitation, the National Weather Service said there’s little chance of the Augusta area receiving much snow. Cold temperatures are still in the cards, however.

Our friends at Goodyear Tires have provided these following tips to ensure your car is ready to handle bitterly cold temperatures:

1. Check the antifreeze and other fluids, including windshield washer solution.

2. Inspect the hoses — replace if weak.

3. Replace any belts that are cracked or glazed over.

4. Change to winter weight oil.

5. Check tire pressure (including spare).

6. Inspect the exhaust system for holes and leaks — exhaust fumes are doubly dangerous when windows are tightly closed!

For tonight’s commute: roads in and around the capital city are clear of accidents, as reported by area law enforcement agencies.

Use caution on the roads tonight driving home, as the National Weather Service is predicting some chance snowfall with below freezing temperatures.

The snow, though only a dusting is expected, will continue into the night.

The roads right now according to multiple area law enforcement agencies are clear and free of accidents.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service predict central Maine will have to endure more bitterly cold temperatures and snow over the next few days.

The roads in Augusta and Kennebec County are clear of accidents this afternoon for the drive home, according to several local agencies.

In extreme cold temperatures such as the snap central Maine has been going through, it is imperative to make sure that your vehicle is still properly winterized, including a check of oil and antifreeze.

Also, avoid accelerating too quickly before your vehicle has had a chance to warm up, according to our friends at AAA. Accelerating with a cold engine contributes to engine failure.

Weekend warriors looking to fill up the gas tank before heading the slopes or looking to break out the snowshoes should check out these local gas stations for the area’s cheapest regular unleaded gasoline:

$3.08 — Getty, 25 Western Ave. in Augusta

$3.10 — Citgo, 146 Civic Center Dr. in Augusta

$3.11 — J & S, 132 Mt. Vernon Ave. in Augusta

Friday morning’s weather caused plenty of fender benders and accidents surrounding Augusta. For details on two accidents that sent four people to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, check out Saturday’s Kennebec Journal.

It hasn't exactly been a red letter day for the Kennebec Commuter.

This writer has almost been in two accidents today alone, all because people don't pay attention to traffic signs.

It has been reported numerous times the new Senator Way (which is the official entrance to the new Augusta Crossing shopping center) has gone from a two-way, two-lane road, to a one-way, two-lane street. Signs and street markers have been posted all over the area indicating the new traffic patterns, though it would seem some either don't notice them or blatantly disregard them.

We talked last week about how unnecessary speeding can eat up more gasoline from your tank.

Our friends at www.fueleconomy.gov have released a study suggesting that a such a small percentage of the gas we put in our tanks actually goes to driving, it’s a wonder we’re not all running on fumes trying to rush from place to place.

The study said only 15 percent of a full gas tank is used by the vehicle to actually get from place to place. Where’s the other 85 percent? The answers may surprise you...

• Engine losses — chemical energy that cannot be converted to mechanical energy, lost due to engine friction and wasted heat: 62.4 percent

• Idling Losses — sitting in city traffic: 17.2 percent

• Accessories — running the air conditioning, power steering or radio: 2.2 percent

• Driveline Losses — energy that is lost in your transmission: 5.6 percent

• Aerodynamic Drag — energy used to push air out of the way so the vehicle can slow down or speed up: 2.6 percent

• Rolling Resistance — the measure of force used to move your tires forward in proportion to the weight on the tire: 4.2 percent

• Overcoming Inertia and Braking Losses: energy used to physically move your vehicle forward: 5.8 percent

The Maine Turnpike Authority is planning to move forward with the final phase of adjustments to be made to the Maine Turnpike, according to the department's website.

A service plaza in West Gardiner is scheduled to start construction sometime this month. Landford and Low of Portland was awarded the contract at $7.7 million, turnpike officials said.

The facility, which will be 19,500 square feet, is expected to be the last phase of the turnpike's overall project to renovate the plazas. Besides West Gardiner, new plazas were also built in Kennebunk, Cumberland and Gray, officials said.

The new plaza, officials said, will replace the ones in Lewiston and Litchfield. Crews are expected to finish the work in fall of this year.

Do you use the Lewiston and Litchfield plazas? Are you likely to use the West Gardiner plaza?

No one wants to venture out on the roads on a day like today, but some unlucky folks have to brave the roads. It seems the only thing worse than having to go out is getting stuck in a snowdrift with no way to get your car out.

Worry not, our friends north of the border (who are probably just as, if not more, familiar with these driving condition than Mainers) at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety said.

There are some basic tips on what to do if your vehicle becomes stuck in a snowdrift:

• Avoid overexertion and overexposure to the cold.

• Stay in the car if you cannot shovel your car out of the snow —or in in blizzard conditions —do not leave the car for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards.

• Turn on flashing lights or set up flares

• Run the car engine 10 minutes every hour to provide heat. Ensure that the tail exhaust pipe is free of snow and keep the window opened slightly, on the side shielded from the wind, to prevent the build up of carbon monoxide when the engine is running.

• Bundle up in a blanket, and wear a hat and scarf — the head and neck are major sources of heat loss from the body.

• Do not fall asleep. If there is more than one person in the car, take turns sleeping.

• Do not stay in one position too long. Do some exercises to help the circulation — move arms and legs, clap your hands, etc.

• Watch for traffic or rescuers

Slick streets meant constant vehicle accidents on the fringes of the capital city and throughout central Maine.

Several accidents were reported, according police radio broadcasts, with quite a few resulting in roll overs.

In the capital city itself, accidents were minimal, according to Augusta police dispatch.

“Things have actually been pretty quiet,” a dispatcher said.

That isn’t carte blanche to drive as though the streets are clear, however. Take a few extra minutes tonight on the drive home and slow down.

The National Weather Service projects the rain and freezing temperatures will continue throughout tonight, but will dry up tomorrow.

Are you a safe driver?

Sure, we all seem to think that we are the only driver on the roads who isn’t a maniac or crazy behind the wheel. But is that really the case?

The good folks at AAA have instituted a “safe driving” quiz on their Web site, partly due to information they say they’ve garned in national polls which suggest drivers ages 26 to 44 admit to exhibiting the most dangerous habits.

Click here for the quiz

Most drivers in and around Augusta seem to be driving safely, and several law enforcement agencies have reported no major traffic accidents for the commute home.

The weather might be great, but the melting snow is a potential danger for drivers, Winthrop police say.

While the snow melts during the day, at night temperatures brush freezing and the dark pavement becomes icy.

“With the warm days we’ve been having, drivers need to be careful at night and look out for black ice patches,” Winthrop police Sgt. Dan Cook said. “Luckily, we haven’t had any reports of trouble with this out here.”

Black ice on roads and bodies of water is extremely dangerous — and sometimes fatal — because it does not contain any air bubbles, which makes it transparent and often takes the color of whatever is atop it.

Avoiding it can be easy, though, Cook said.

"Just slow down."

Want to know what else is affected by the rapidly melting ice and snow? Check out Thursday's Kennebec Journal.

Though the weather could not be more perfect today, we still have to remember it’s January in Maine, and we’re bound to get snow again. One of the scarier aspects of driving on ice and snow is trying to brake safely, especially if you have anti-lock brakes. The same could be said on a nice day like today, when snow is melting all over the roads and there’s a likely chance you could hydroplane.

What a difference a week makes.

A week ago, we were bundling up against the cold snap. Today was practically unseasonable for January in Maine, with temperatures reaching into the 40’s (in fact, the National Weather Service is predicting temperatures as high as 47 degrees tomorrow!).

A colleage of mine came in from lunch in a bit of a huff.

Trying to merge onto Western Avenue from the airport, she said, was a nightmare. The snowbank was so high, it was difficult to look for oncoming traffic. Snowbanks are starting to accumulate down by the rotaries and along other main drags through town, making it difficult to look for traffic at certain intersections or impossible to walk on sidewalks.

Fear not, Augusta Public Works Director John Charest said. The city is doing all they can to ease the pileup.

“I had crews out last night and will continue to have them haul the snow away,” Charest said. “By the middle of next week, there will be no snow on Western Avenue.”

Even if the roads aren’t clear of snow, they are clear of accidents for the ride home, according to local law-enforcement agencies.

The next time you’re late, you might want to think twice about speeding to get there.

According to the Consumer Energy Center, excess speeding is the biggest gasoline waster.

As your speed increases over 55 mph, gas mileage on your vehicle generally starts to decrease. With gas and diesel prices the way they are currently, who wants to spend more money at the pump?

In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every five mph you drive over 60, the cost can be as much as $.21 per gallon at $3 per gallon.

And there should be no need to hurry home tonight from work. Area law enforcement agencies have reported clear roads and no accidents.

Dispatchers said no one was seriously injured in a late-morning accident in West Gardiner.

Dispatchers said two cars collided at Pond Road and Route 126 at 10:45 this morning. Only minor injuries were reported from the two drivers, though the crash caused a traffic tie-up.

The drivers’ names and the cause of the accident were not immediately released. The accident is still under investigation.

Looking for low gas prices? Check out these local stations:

$3.02 — Capitol Mini-Mart, 179 State St. in Augusta

$3.07 — Lukoil, 240 Riverside Dr. in Augusta

$3.09 — Exxon, 183 Capitol St. in Augusta