RALEIGH – As families travel to enjoy the final holiday weekend of summer, 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, motorists 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 4 p.m., Friday, September 4, until 9 a.m., Tuesday, September 8 with these exceptions:
- 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;
- U.S. 264 in Dare County will have lane closures at five locations to replace five bridges by phased construction. Traffic will be controlled by temporary signals;
- Hanover Street to Campbell Street will be closed with detours in New Hanover County due to a bridge replacement;
- Southbound Interstate 85 at Poplar Mount Road (mile marker 227.5) north of Henderson will have one lane closed;
- I-40 in the Fortify work zone in Raleigh will have lane closure restrictions, with travel limited to three lanes in both directions;
- U.S. 311 south of Archdale in Randolph County is closed and a detour is in place due to a culvert replacement project;
- I-73 in Guilford County is reduced to three lanes in each direction in Greensboro between Wendover Avenue and I-85;
- U.S. 21 in Alleghany County has two automated signals in place along a 10-mile stretch for staged structure replacement;
- 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; and
- Southbound I -77 Exit 51B in Iredell County is closed and a detour is in place due to ramp work at U.S. 21.
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, call 511, visit the Traveler Services section of NCDOT.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.
Also, the 2015 Labor Day Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) “Booze It & Lose It” has kicked off and runs through September 7. Nearly every law enforcement agency in the state participates in this highly-effective anti-drunk driving enforcement and education campaign. Last year approximately 2,800 DWI arrests were made during the Labor Day campaign. Local and state law enforcement officers also issued more than 102,000 traffic and criminal citations statewide.
Sobriety checkpoints will be continually set up in all North Carolina counties during this year’s campaign. Remember, there are more ways than ever to get home if you have been drinking. Call a friend, take a taxi, ride public transportation, designate a sober a driver or use a ridesharing app.