The Virginia Department of Transportation hopes to ease holiday travel by suspending lane closures for Christmas and New Years.

The department says it is opening temporarily closed lanes from noon on Monday until noon next Wednesday. It will do the same from noon on Monday, December 31 until noon on Wednesday, January 2.

Long-term construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain in place.

VDOT also is reminding those who are driving to their destinations for the holiday to buckle up, avoid distractions, obey speed limits and to drive free of drugs and alcohol.