To ensure the most safe and efficient travel possible for North Carolina residents and visitors this Labor Day weekend, the N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most road construction projects causing lane closures on major routes across the state.
Where possible, closed lanes will be opened from Friday morning until Tuesday evening. There are, however, some locations where the type or stage of construction will not allow an opening for safety reasons.
Drivers can check the status of the route they plan to take in advance by visiting DriveNC.gov. They can also follow NCDOT on social media to track travel updates by region or route.
NCDOT encourages drivers to follow these tips to navigate the roads safely over the holiday weekend:
• Leave early to get a head start on your drive. Travel at non-peak hours when possible;
• Stay alert. Even if construction work is suspended, you may encounter narrowed lanes and traffic shifts in work zones;
• Be patient and obey the posted speed limit;
• Use alternate routes when possible to avoid traffic congestion;
• Travel at times when you are normally awake and take frequent breaks;
• Avoid distracted driving
• Don’t drive drunk or impaired.
Labor Day weekend is also a time for law enforcement to crack down on drunk driving. The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program has already started its “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, geared toward catching people who are driving under the influence.
Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will be in place in all 100 counties through Monday to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you plan to drink over the holiday period, NCDOT and GHSP strongly urge you to call a friend, use a ride-share service or take a cab or public transit.
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