Mississippians planning to hit the road to spend time with family and friends this Labor Day will notice less travel delays due to construction. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will suspend all interstate and four-lane highway work in anticipation of increased holiday travel.
MDOT crews and contractors will halt all road construction requiring lane closures from Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m. until Tuesday, September 8, at 6 a.m. This will provide maximum travel capacity and minimal construction delays to motorists traveling throughout the state during the holiday.
“Even though no highway construction work will be occurring across the state, motorists should be aware that some lane closures will remain in place,” said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT Executive Director. “These lanes closures are there to protect motorists, and drivers should treat these areas as active work zones.”
Motorists are urged to continue to pay attention to work zones, which can present unfamiliar driving patterns. Motorists should slow down when approaching and traveling through work zones, and always avoid distracted driving.
“MDOT wants to make travel safe and convenient for the public during this holiday,” McGrath said. “While MDOT construction crews won’t be working, staff will be putting additional effort into monitoring the state’s highways to make sure everyone is able to enjoy this Labor Day safely.”
Highway traffic may increase on Labor Day weekend as travelers fit in a final trip for the summer.
(MDOT News Release)
Construction work continues along I-55 between Batesville and Hernando. Some lane closures may remain over the Labor Day weekend, but workers will not be present. (Courtesy Mississippi Department of Transportation)
