Motorists traveling across Alabama during the Fourth of July holiday should encounter fewer construction-related delays as the Alabama Department of Transportation suspends temporary lane closures on interstate highways for the holiday weekend.

The suspension will be in effect from 6 a.m. Friday, July 3, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 5, allowing higher holiday traffic volumes to move more efficiently across the state’s interstate system.

ALDOT said the temporary pause is intended to reduce congestion and improve safety as more travelers take to the roads for Independence Day celebrations.

“During the 2024 Fourth of July holiday, 11 people died in crashes in the state of Alabama,” said Dalton Middleton, coordinator for Drive Safe Alabama. “That number of deaths was the second highest holiday the entire year, only behind the Thanksgiving holiday. By suspending temporary lane closures, our goal is to keep traffic moving and get everyone to their destinations.”

The department is also urging drivers to make safety a priority throughout the holiday weekend by avoiding distractions, obeying posted speed limits and ensuring everyone in the vehicle is properly buckled.

ALDOT noted that speeding remains the leading contributing factor in fatal crashes statewide because it reduces reaction time and increases the severity of crashes.

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and check traffic conditions before leaving. Real-time traffic information, road conditions and live traffic camera feeds are available through the ALGO Traffic website and mobile app.

Got a tip for OTR? Send your tip to [email protected] with related photo/video, your name, phone number, and e-mail address.