Raleigh, N.C. — The state Department of Transportation plans to suspend most road construction activities that could affect travel over the Easter holiday to help ease traffic delays and make driving conditions safer, officials said Monday.

Most construction projects along interstates and U.S. highways across North Carolina will be suspended from 4 p.m. Thursday until 9 a.m. next Monday, officials said. The only exceptions are as follows:

• U.S. Highway 17 in Beaufort County will be reduced to two lanes on both the bridge over the Tar River in Washington, and from Bragaw Lane to Whichard’s Beach Road (State Road 1166) in Chocowinity.

• U.S. Highway 74 in Anson County will be reduced to two lanes from Graham Street to N.C. Highway 109.

• N.C. Highway 210 in Onslow County will be closed from U.S. 17 to N.C. Highway 172 to replace the bridge over Stone’s Creek. Drivers on N.C. 210 should use U.S. 17 and N.C. 172 as a detour.

Even though work has been suspended during the holiday weekend, narrowed lanes and traffic shifts might still be present in some work zones, officials said. The penalty for speeding through a marked work zone is $250.