WASHINGTON — With afternoon traffic expected to pick up early on Friday, the District Department of Transportation plans to switch traffic signals on major roads to rush-hour timing several hours earlier than usual.

All major roads will switch to rush-hour signal timing at noon Friday, DDOT spokesman Terry Owens told WTOP, as crowds head to Nationals Park for Game 1 of the National League Division Series and some workers leave early for Columbus Day weekend.

Even on a normal Friday without additional factors, some locations like Suitland Parkway and Stanton Road in Southeast can back up before the switch to rush hour mode begins around 3 p.m., according to WTOP Director of Traffic and Transit Operations Jim Battagliese. The early change could be extremely helpful on a day when additional traffic is expected, Battagliese added.

During rush hour, signals’ duration and synchronization are changed to improve the flow of traffic.

DDOT expects heavy traffic and delays on Interstate 295, Interstate 695, Interstate 395 and the Southeast/Southwest Freeway as well as along South Capitol Street near Nationals Park.