Because it’s the season for holiday travel, the Mississippi Department of Transportation says it’s attempting to limit travel delays caused by highway construction as well as offering a few holiday travel tips.

To help keep your holidays merry and bright, 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 Jan. 3. The closures will provide maximum travel capacity and minimal construction delays for holiday travelers.

“Although no highway construction work will be occurring across the state, motorists should be aware that some lane closures will remain in place,” said Brad White, MDOT executive director. “These lane closures are there to protect motorists, and MDOT urges drivers to always treat these areas as active work zones, even though workers may not be present.”

No matter your Christmas or New Years destination, safety should be your top priority, so 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. Keep in mind that 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.

For the most current travel and traffic information, visit MDOTTraffic.com, download the free MDOT Traffic app, and like @MississippiDOT on Twitter and Facebook.