The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced Monday that Labor Day travelers would not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during this year’s holiday.
TDOT announced in a press release that the department will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state highways to “provide maximum roadway capacity” for those traveling on and leading up to Labor Day.
All construction-related lane closures in the state will be stopped from noon on Friday, September 1 through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5, according to TDOT.
Labor Day is on Monday, September 4.
“The Labor Day holiday is typically a busy travel time,” TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said in a statement. “We want to ensure that the thousands of travelers using Tennessee’s roadways during this period arrive at their destinations quickly and safely without being impeded by road construction delays.”
Despite the holiday construction halt, motorists may still encounter lane closures or restrictions while traveling through long-term construction projects on state roadways, TDOT notes. With this in mind, drivers are instructed to obey the posted speeds in work zones and drive safely.
TDOT adds that the fine for speeding in work zones with workers present ranges from $250-$500, on top of court fees and higher insurance rates.
Last week, the American Automobile Association (AAA) booking data for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises showed Labor Day weekend travel is up over last year, as domestic bookings were up 4 percent and international bookings were up 44 percent at the time.
The AAA’s booking data shows Vancouver, Rome, London, Dublin, and Paris are the top five international destinations over Labor Day weekend while Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, New York, and Las Vegas are the top five domestic destinations.
Meanwhile, Nashville International Airport (BNA) is preparing for a surge of over 300,000 travelers passing through TSA checkpoints surrounding the Labor Day holiday with Sunday, September 10, projected to be the peak travel day with more than 40,000 passengers through security.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
