The Mississippi Department of Transportation will suspend all interstate and four-lane highway roadwork during the next two holiday weekends. The suspension of work includes construction along Highway 43 North.

All MDOT crews and contractors stopped roadwork Thursday at 5 p.m. The suspension will last through Dec. 26 at 6 a.m.

Work will also cease from Friday, Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. until Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 6 a.m., according to a press release from MDOT.

The decision to stop roadwork during those dates was made to minimize traveling delays for motorists traveling across the state during the holidays, MDOT Public Information Officer Jason Scott said.

Wesley Berry, a project engineer for the work ongoing along Highway 43, said even though his project does not involve lane closures, work on the project will cease during the next two holiday weekends.

Scott said while roadwork will not be taking place during the next couple of days, motorists should be aware of lane closures that will remain in place and pay close attention when driving through work zones to avoid accidents.

“MDOT wants to make travel safe and convenient for the public over the next two holiday weekends,” Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT executive director said in the release. “While MDOT construction crews won’t be working, staff will be putting additional effort into monitoring the state’s highways to make sure everyone is able to enjoy the holiday weekend safely.”