RALEIGH –As families travel over the river and through the woods for Thanksgiving 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, 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 6 a.m.,Wednesday, November 25, until midnight, Sunday, November 29 with these exceptions:

• 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;
• 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;
• Hanover Street to Campbell Street is closed with detours in New Hanover County due to a bridge replacement;
• U.S. 421/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;
• In Haywood County, the outside lane of westbound I-40 at Exit 15 will be closed due to damaged girders 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 Thanksgiving “Click It or Ticket” campaign begins Nov. 23 and runs through Nov. 29. Law enforcement officers are stepping up patrols statewide, watching for people who aren’t buckled up, so don’t forget: Buckle up. Every seat. Every time.

While you’re traveling this Thanksgiving holiday, your job is to be a safe driver. Focus on the road, and let everything else wait until you arrive at your destination.