Labor Day Traffic Relief
States suspend or reduce highway construction lane closures to ease Labor Day travel.
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Smithfield Canyon Road had been scheduled to close Monday through Thursday for about six weeks beginning Aug. 31, restricting access to National Forest land and recreation areas and limiting turnaround space for large vehicles. Although the road will be open on Labor Day, traffic will be reduced to one lane beginning at 2600 East.
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New York’s construction-closure suspension is scheduled from 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, and is part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s broader Drivers First Initiative, which focuses on reducing congestion and delays caused by road and bridge construction.
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Several Illinois work zones will remain restricted despite the statewide pause, including portions of I-55 near Towanda, the Mackinaw River, Lexington and McLean; I-74 near Brimfield; and roads in the Peoria and Bloomington areas. A ramp from Illinois 40 to westbound I-74 in East Peoria will remain closed with a posted detour.
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During Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge Walk closure, southbound I-75 and US-2 traffic will be stopped at Exit 344 on the bridge’s north side, while northbound I-75 traffic will be stopped at Exit 337 on the south end.
States across the nation are halting highway construction work over Labor Day weekend to ease traffic and protect road workers from surging holiday congestion. MDOT will lift restrictions on 91 of 156 projects from September 4 at 3 p.m. through September 8 at 6 a.m., while New York and Illinois are pausing most construction lane closures during the same period. However, equipment, detours, and safety-critical work zones will remain in place.
Michigan Lifts Most Construction Work Ahead of Holiday Rush
MDOT is reopening the majority of its highway lanes this Labor Day weekend. Out of 156 active projects statewide, the department will suspend work on 91 of them from Friday afternoon through early Monday morning. MDOT officials made this decision to reduce congestion during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Drivers should expect that temporary lane shifts, equipment hazards, and detour routes may still exist at many locations. Additionally, the iconic Mackinac Bridge will close to public traffic from 6:30 a.m. to noon on September 7 for the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk. This closure will affect I-75 and US-2 traffic, with southbound vehicles stopped at Exit 344 and northbound traffic halted at Exit 337.
New York's Drivers First Initiative Suspends Freeway Closures
New York will pause nearly all construction-related lane closures from 6 a.m. on Friday, September 4, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8. The suspension is part of Governor Kathy Hochul's broader Drivers First Initiative, which aims to cut congestion and delays caused by ongoing road and bridge work across the state.
The temporary pause reflects state officials' commitment to balancing infrastructure progress with holiday travel reliability. By reducing active work zones during peak travel days, New York hopes to keep major routes flowing smoothly and give construction workers a break from heavy holiday traffic conditions.
Illinois Maintains Restrictions on Key Construction Zones
Illinois will suspend non-emergency lane closures from Friday afternoon through Monday night, but several critical work zones will remain restricted despite the statewide pause. Portions of I-55 near Towanda, the Mackinaw River, Lexington and McLean will stay closed. Additionally, I-74 near Brimfield and roads in the Peoria and Bloomington areas will remain under construction restrictions.
A ramp from Illinois 40 to westbound I-74 in East Peoria will remain closed with a posted detour route. State transportation officials retained these closures because removing them would create unacceptable safety risks or leave active construction work exposed to holiday traffic surges.
Utah Canyon Road Opens for Labor Day Despite Ongoing Work
Smithfield Canyon Road east of Smithfield City, Utah, will reopen to traffic on Monday, September 7, after being scheduled for a six-week closure beginning August 31. The road closure was restricting access to National Forest land, recreation areas, and turnaround space for large vehicles during the original closure period. Officials moved the closure pause to observe the Labor Day holiday.
Drivers should expect single-lane traffic beginning at 2600 East and potential delays from the ongoing waterline project. Equipment hazards will remain present along the route. State officials emphasize that motorists should slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions, and never drive while impaired when navigating these work zones.
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