One of the busiest travel times of the year is coming up with the Memorial Day weekend, and the N.C. Department of Transportation wants your trip to be safe.
NCDOT will pause most road construction activities that require lane closures on interstate, U.S. and N.C. routes from early Friday morning, May 24, through Tuesday evening, May 28. The actual times depend on the projects.
Lane closures will remain in place for safety reasons in some locations where conditions do not allow for lanes or roads to be re-opened, such as many bridge replacement projects or where there is no pavement or shoulder. In addition, work that does not interfere with the travel lanes can still take place over the extended weekend.
Key routes where closures will remain in place include:
Travelers can check ahead on the status of the routes they plan to use by going to DriveNC.gov, where conditions can be checked by route number, county or region.
Here are some additional tips for safely navigating the highways during the holiday weekend:
~Buckle Up. Every seat, every time. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program and the Highway Patrol will be conducting their annual Click It or Ticket campaign, enforcing passenger safety laws.
~Stay alert when going through work zones, as even if work is suspended, you may encounter narrowed lanes and traffic shifts;
~Be patient and obey the posted speed limit;
~Avoid distracted driving;
~Don’t tailgate. Give yourself space in case traffic in front of you suddenly stops or slows down;
~Travel at non-peak hours when possible, and leave early to allow extra time to reach your destination;
~Consider using alternate routes to avoid usual traffic congestion locations such as near a major city; and
~Obey the “Move Over Law” – which requires motorists to move over one lane, if possible, or reduce speed when emergency and construction vehicles with flashing lights are on the shoulder of the highway.
Additionally, drivers who choose to use the Monroe Expressway or Triangle Expressway are reminded they can save money on tolls using a prepaid NC Quick Pass transponder.
NC Quick Pass is the North Carolina Turnpike Authority’s toll collection program. It offers drivers two ways to pay for tolls: a prepaid transponder account or the Bill by Mail program.
Transponders automatically deduct tolls from a prepaid balance and provide drivers up to a 35% savings, including on the future express lanes on Interstate 77.
The NC Quick Pass E-ZPass transponder can also be used for toll facilities in Florida (SunPass), Georgia (Peach Pass) and states where E-ZPass is accepted.
For more information about NC Quick Pass transponder options, customers can visit www.ncquickpass.com or follow NC Quick Pass on Twitter @NC_QuickPass.
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