As families begin traveling this holiday season, 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 suspend most construction projects along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes, from 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, until 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, 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. 158 in Currituck and Dare counties will have traffic in a two way and a two lane pattern on the U.S. 158 bridge over the Currituck Sound due to the ongoing deck rehabilitation;
• U.S. 264 in Dare County will be reduced to one of two lanes controlled by temporary traffic signals in three locations for the replacement of three bridges. Lane closures are located between Stumpy Point and the Hyde County line;
• U.S. 158 in Hertford County between Murfreesboro and Winton may be reduced to one of two lanes in the Eastbound lanes for paving operations;
• N.C. 12 in Dare County South of Bonner Bridge may be reduced to one of two lanes to continue clearing sand adjacent to the road from the recent nor’easter storm. Impacts should be minor;
• I-440 in Raleigh is in a two-lane pattern in both directions between I-40 and U.S. 64/264 as a part of the Fortify project. Also there may be lane closures the nights of Dec. 29 and 30; and
• I-73 in Guilford County is reduced to two lanes in each direction between I-40 and I-85 for a new interchange with High Point Road.

For real-time travel information at any time, visit the Travel section of the NCDOT website, call 511 or follow NCDOT on Twitter. Another option is NCDOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website.

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.

In addition, it is the 20^th anniversary of “Booze It & Lose It” and the holiday campaign began Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 4, 2015. Law enforcement officers across the state will hold checkpoints and step up patrols to catch drivers who break the law during the holidays.

While you travel this holiday season, remember that your job is to be a safe driver, so focus on the road and let everything else wait until you arrive at your destination.