Source: Wikimedia commons

GDOT said it is cutting down on construction-related lane closures over the Memorial Day weekend as people prepare to travel for the holiday.

The suspension of lane closures on interstates and major state highways starts at noon Friday and extends until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

“We hope the suspension of major construction work will allow motorists to get to and from their holiday destinations with less congestion and less aggravation,” said GDOT Director of Construction Jeff Baker in a GDOT press release. “This is the first holiday of the summer travel season and many people are hitting the road. We want to make it a little easier for them to travel throughout the state.”

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GDOT is urging caution since some crews may still be working near highways and long-term closures may still be in place.

GDOT says Memorial Day weekend is one of the heaviest traveled times. It’s reminding drivers not to text and eat while driving and to definitely wear a seat belt.

It launched a new campaign called Drive Alert, Arrive Alive, noting that traffic fatalities in the state were up 25 percent this year compared to the same time in 2014.

GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said on the GDOT website that early data show many of those fatalities have occurred in single vehicle crashes resulting from distracted driving.

GDOT said only 38 percent of victims in fatality crashes were wearing seat belts.