TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Transportation is suspending construction activity on interstate highways across the state during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period to improve safety and ease travel for motorists.
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ALDOT officials said the annual pause is intended to reduce congestion and create safer driving conditions as holiday traffic increases. Construction zones on interstates will be closed beginning at noon Tuesday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Dec. 27, and again from Tuesday, Dec. 30, through Friday, Jan. 2.
The holiday construction halt applies to active interstate work zones statewide and is part of ALDOT’s standard holiday traffic management plan, which prioritizes travel efficiency during periods of heavy vehicle volume.
“We do this every year to improve safety and we want people traveling into the state and out of the state to be able to get where they’re going a lot easier and safer,” said ALDOT west Alabama spokesperson, John McWilliams. “By closing these construction zones, it allows that to happen.”
According to McWilliams, ALDOT oversees hundreds of construction sites across Alabama, many of which are temporarily paused during the holiday period. While work on interstates will be suspended, drivers may still encounter maintenance activity or construction on non-interstate routes where conditions allow.
ALDOT encourages motorists to remain alert, follow posted speed limits and allow extra travel time during peak holiday hours, even with construction zones cleared. Officials say normal construction schedules will resume following the New Year as crews return to active projects across the state.
Originally reported by Bryan Henry in WTVY.
