Over the Memorial Day weekend, the N.C. Department of Transportation will pause most road construction on major routes across the state to help holiday travelers have smoother trips.

By avoiding traffic delays, motorists can reach their destinations safely and efficiently.

DOT will suspend most construction along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes from 6 a.m. Wednesday until midnight Monday with these exceptions:

• N.C. 32 will be closed one-half mile north of Dillard’s Mill Road in Chowan County.
• U.S. 264 will have one of two lanes closed between Stumpy Point and Englehard at the Dare-Hyde County line.
• Interstate 85 between Henderson and the Virginia state line will have traffic in a two-lane, two-way pattern.
• The eastbound lane of U.S. 70 will be closed from Seventh Street in Hickory to Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard in Catawba County.
• N.C. 215 will have a bridge replaced six miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Transylvania County.
• N.C. 209’s future lanes are closed a half mile north of U.S. 74 to a quarter mile south of U.S. 74 for widening and interchange improvements in Haywood County.
• U.S. 441 Business will be closed from the bridge over Little Tennessee River to a half mile northeast of downtown Franklin in Macon County.
• In New Hanover County, Third Street will be closed at Front Street and Carolina Beach Road.
• In Sampson County, N.C. 24 will be closed within the Clinton city limits for a widening project.

Here are some tips for safely navigating the highways during Memorial Day weekend:

• Leave early to get a head start on your drive. Travel at nonpeak 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 at DriveNC.gov, by calling 511, or by following NCDOT on Twitter.
• 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.

The Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” campaign runs through June 4. Law enforcement officers are stepping up patrols statewide, watching for people who aren’t buckled up.