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Lane Closures Halted For Labor Day, THP Steps Up Enforcement

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Friday officially marks the end of the summer holiday travel season.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation Department is halting all lane closures and construction for the Labor Day weekend as travelers hit the roads. 

Construction crews will end lane closures activities from Friday until Tuesday morning to ensure maximum road capacity for travelers.

The department warns that while closures will be stopped, there will still be workers in construction zones. That means that posted speed limit reductions still need to be observed by drivers, and that enhanced penalties for speeders will still be in place.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Hermine may threaten some popular beach destinations. At last check, there's no cancelations out of Nashville International Airport, but flyers should keep an eye on their flight statuses.

Although gas prices continue to rise, they're still cheaper than a year ago. In Tennessee, you'll pay an average of $2.04. 

However, cheaper gas means more people on the road and that can come with deadly consequences.

The National Safety Council predicts there will be 438 traffic fatalities for this three-day period - that's the most since 2008. 

Fourteen people were killed on Tennessee's roads over last year's Labor Day weekend, and alcohol was a factor in six of those deaths.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is enhancing enforcement during the holiday weekend, paying special attention to reckless, distracted and drunken driving.