As families prepare to travel for their annual holiday celebrations, the N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most road construction activities on major routes across the state to help make their trips a little smoother. By avoiding traffic delays, drivers can reach their destinations safely and efficiently, while cutting down on fuel consumption and costs.
NCDOT will put on hold most construction projects along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes from 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 21 until 12 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 with these exceptions:
- U.S. 264 in Dare County has lane closures at five locations to replace five bridges by phased construction. Traffic will be controlled by temporary signals;
- U.S. 158 (Elizabeth Street) in Elizabeth City is reduced to one lane in each direction from Road Street to the Pasquotank River Bridge for resurfacing and construction of a new bridge;
- N.C. 11 in Hertford County is reduced to one lane with temporary signals for bridge maintenance work;
- N.C. 94 two miles south of Columbia in Tyrrell County is reduced to one lane with temporary signals for bridge maintenance work;
- N.C. 32 in Chowan County from N.C. 94 to N.C. 37 is reduced to one lane for concrete pavement repairs;
- Hanover Street to Campbell Street is closed with detours in New Hanover County due to a bridge replacement;
- U.S. 421 from Johnson Farm Road to N.C. 27 in Harnett County is closed as work continues on a new pedestrian tunnel at Campbell University;
- I-40 in the Fortify work zone in Raleigh has lane closure restrictions, with travel limited to three lanes in both directions on an 8 1/2-mile stretch;
- Both inside lanes along Interstate 85 Business near Prospect Street in Randolph County are closed due to work on the median associated with a bridge replacement;
- U.S. 311 near Banner Whitehead Road in Randolph County is detoured where crews are replacing a culvert;
- Eastbound U.S. 74 in Cleveland County has a one-lane pattern just east of Sandy Run Creek bridges and a one-lane detour route along new ramps for Peachtree Road and back to U.S. 74;
- A section of U.S. 176 four miles south of Saluda in Polk County is closed as engineers determine how to prevent additional rockslides on the highway;
- In Buncombe County, one lane of the northbound U.S. 23 Business/Haywood Drive bridge over I-26/240 is closed because of damage to a beam under the bridge; and
- U.S. 23/74 in Jackson County has lane closures in place for bridgework.
Here are some additional tips for navigating the highways safely during the holiday travel season:
- Leave early to get a head start on your drive. Travel at non-peak hours when possible.
- Stay alert. Even if 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.
- Stay informed. Real-time travel information is available online and over the phone by dialing 511.
- Don’t drive drowsy. Travel at times when you are normally awake, and take frequent breaks.
- Avoid distracted driving. When drivers stop focusing on the road ahead, they react more slowly to traffic conditions and are more likely to be involved in an accident.
For real-time travel information at any time, visit the Travel section of the NCDOT website or follow NCDOT on Twitter.
In addition, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program started their holiday “Booze It & Loose It” campaign on Dec. 11 and runs through Jan. 3. Law enforcement officers are stepping up patrols statewide, so remember: “Don’t drink and drive. You’re smarter than that.” It’s never been easier to find a sober way home—including calling a friend, using a taxi, taking public transportation, ride-sharing or designating a driver.
In 2014, 380 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver, and in December 2014 alone there were 24 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. One of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day.
While you’re traveling over the holidays, your job is to be a safe driver. Focus on the road, and let everything else wait until you arrive at your destination.