MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL: ALDOT to limit lane closures

Published 8:30 am Thursday, May 24, 2018

Temporary lane closures will be limited during the Memorial Day travel period, according to officials with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The travel period runs from noon Friday through midnight Monday.

Those planning to travel through Birmingham should be aware that Interstate 20/59 north at milepost 124 will be closed Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Detour routes will be marked for motorists.

“While most ALDOT construction will halt during the holiday, driving within the speed limit and watching out for shifting lanes and other changes in the roadway is still important in a construction zone,” said Allison Green, Drive Safe Alabama coordinator, ALDOT. “Before getting on the road, drivers can find out if there are construction zones along their route or traffic congestion by checking ALGOTraffic.com or the ALGO Traffic app.”

Driving tips

With increased traffic expected on roads around the state, ALDOT is asking travelers to allow extra time to reach their destination. ALDOT offers the following reminders for the Memorial Day holiday weekend:

• Don’t drive under the influence: People are seven times more likely to die in a crash when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as shown in ALDOT crash reports. Designating a sober driver before drinking is key to preventing these deadly crashes; and

• Wear your seat belt: Surviving a crash is much more likely when wearing a seat belt. Latest stats from Drive Safe Alabama show that almost 60 percent of people dying in crashes on Alabama highways are not wearing a seat belt.