ATLANTA — To ease Fourth of July holiday weekend traffic congestion, the Georgia Department of Transportation will suspend construction-related lane closures on interstate and major state system highways from 5 a.m. Friday through 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

“We expect heavy holiday traffic across the state as people head to parades, barbecues and fireworks,” GDOT Director of Construction Marc Mastronardi said. “By restricting lane closures, we hope this will enable motorists to travel with fewer delays and less stress.”

GDOT reminds motorists that crews may still work in proximity to highways; and safety concerns may require some long-term lane closures to remain in place. Also, incident management or emergency maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary at any time on any route. Whenever you approach a work zone: slow down; allow extra distance between vehicles; read signs; obey road crew flaggers; and expect the unexpected.

During the 2015 Fourth of July weekend, there were 15 traffic fatalities statewide, up from 14 in 2014.

GDOT urges drivers to “DriveAlert ArriveAlive” — to always buckle up, stay off the phone and focus on driving.

In the event of a crash or breakdown, pull off the road if possible and turn on your emergency flashers. Otherwise, remain seat-belted in the vehicle. Never get out of the car on a freeway unless your life is in imminent danger.

For information about travel conditions on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, call 511 before getting on the road. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides traffic and travel information statewide, including traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays. Callers can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Metro Atlanta, you can also request HERO assistance by calling 511. More information is available at www.511ga.org.