Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Georgia Department of Transportation will suspend construction on interstates and major highways over the holiday weekend in an attempt to make the already-congested roadways a little safer.

The DOT announced Thursday that it would suspend work that necessitates lane closures on major thoroughfares. Construction will be halted at 5 a.m. Friday and resume 5 a.m. Tuesday.

"We hope this suspension of major construction work will allow motorists to get to and from their holiday destinations with less congestion and less aggravation," said district engineer Bayne Smith.

Emergency road work could still occur, Smith said.

After an all-time low of just five traffic fatalities over Memorial Day weekend in 2010, the statewide total tracked by the Georgia State Patrol jumped back up to 15 in 2011.

Two Lawrenceville men were killed in a car wreck near Loganville last Memorial Day.

Gwinnett County police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith had simple words of advice for motorists over the holiday weekend.

"Buckle up, slow down, don't text and don't drink and drive," he said.