LANSING, June 27, 2009 (AP): The Michigan Department of Transportation is improving motorists' chances of finding smooth sailing over the Fourth of July weekend.

The department says in a news release that it will remove lane restrictions on 111 out of 164 road projects statewide beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday and continuing until 6 a.m. July 6.

MDOT Director Kirk T. Steudle says temporarily suspending more than two-thirds of the department's projects will make travel more convenient for the estimated 1.1 million motorists expected to be on the road during the long holiday.

On the Net: Michigan Department of Transportation,
http://www.michigan.gov/drive (click on `MDOT Halts Most Work for
Holiday' for holiday travel information.)