JACKSON, MISS. – ‘Tis the season for holiday travel. With more vehicles on the highways, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to help keep your holidays merry and bright by limiting travel delays caused by highway construction and offer a few holiday travel tips.
MDOT will suspend all interstate and four-lane highway construction during peak Christmas and New Year’s travel times. All road construction requiring lane closures will stop Dec. 24 and resume on Jan. 1. The closures will provide maximum travel capacity and minimal construction delays for holiday travelers.
“Despite the absence of highway construction activities statewide, drivers should be aware that some lane closures will remain in place,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “These lane closures aim to protect motorists and MDOT urges drivers to always treat these areas as active work zones, even with the absence of workers.”
No matter your Christmas or New Year’s destination, safety should be your top priority. MDOT offers these tips for safe driving this holiday season:
- Plan ahead. The MDOT Traffic mobile app shows real-time road conditions along your travel route.
- Get plenty of rest before driving. Remember to plan frequent stops if traveling long distances.
- Buckle up. Seat belt use is one of the easiest and most effective ways to save lives and reduce injuries from a possible crash.
- Always use caution in work zones. Maintenance workers also want to make it home safely to their families for the holidays.
- Watch out for wildlife. Cooler temperatures mean deer and other wildlife are more active near highways. Use extra caution if traveling during dusk and dawn.
- Do not drive impaired. If you do plan to drink, make sure you have a designated driver.
Work zone safety
Highway work zones are meant to protect the traveling public and roadside workers. Highway work zones can be found throughout the state and often present unfamiliar traffic conditions. Examples of common work zones found on Mississippi highways and a complete list of safe driving tips can be found at GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.
MDOT project website
MDOT recently launched a new project update webpage that aims to keep the public informed regarding significant, active projects. The webpage provides up-to-date information on project timelines, progress, and any potential road closures or detours that may be associated with the project. Access the MDOT projects webpage by visiting GoMDOT.com/Projects.
In addition to the projects webpage, drivers can stay updated with live travel information by downloading the MDOT Traffic mobile app, visiting MDOTtraffic.com and following @MississippiDOT on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
