The highway news this week is that there's no news — or at least no highway work.

As is does every year, the state Transportation Department has shut down all construction work on major roads to make it a little easier for their workers to get their last-minute shopping done.

No, just kidding. It's really to help the rest of us get around a little easier in what's normally one of the busiest driving periods of the year.

"We're pretty much off the road for the rest of the year," said DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa. This year the construction moratorium includes all work on the H-1, H-2 and H-3 freeways and most other O'ahu roads that are likely to see extra traffic during the holiday season.

There still may be lane closures for shoulder and landscaping work or emergency road maintenance, including pothole and guardrail repairs.

Enjoy it while you can. Most highway construction projects resume Jan. 4. Meanwhile, work is continuing at the following areas:

ROADWORK

'Ewa. Renton Road and the future extension of Kapolei Parkway, new intersection.

Fort Weaver Road. Lane closures in both directions between Honouliuli Stream Bridge and the Farrington Highway overpass, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through tomorrow, pavement repairs.

H-1 Freeway. Airport viaduct, possible shoulder lane closures in both directions between airport and Middle Street, shoulder work.

Halawa Heights Road. Possible lane closures between Fernridge Place and 'Iwa'iwa Street, near Camp Smith, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, roadway widening. Right mauka-bound lane along the Kahuapa'ani Overpass closed, bridge work.

Hale'iwa. Anahulu Stream, bridge rehabilitation.

Honolulu. Harding Avenue from 1st Avenue to Luawai Street, 6th Avenue from Harding Avenue to Palolo Avenue, Le'ahi Avenue from Kapahulu Avenue to Noela Street, 5th Avenue from Harding Avenue to dead end, reconstruction and repaving of streets. Kala'i'opua Place, roadway reconstruction. North King Street, from Liliha Street to Morris Lane, street lighting. Ginger Street, Gardenia Street, Ginger Street to Carlos Long; Myrtle Street, Carlos Long to end; Narcissus street and place, rehabilitation of streets. St. Louis Drive, Dole Street, Frank Street, Alphonse Place and Robert Street, street rehabilitation.

Kailua. Kainehe, Hamakua, and Keolu streets and Kalaheo Avenue from Kainua Drive to Ku'ulei Road, sewer work.

Kaimuki. Po'oleka Street to Wai'oma'o Stream. Drainage improvements.

Kamehameha Highway. Temporary detour bridge near the Halawa Gate of the Pearl Harbor naval base in operation through July 2006, no U-turns allowed at Halawa Drive.

Kunia Road. Right Waipahu-bound lane closed between Waipahu Street and Honowai Street, and right Wahiawa lanes between H-1 Freeway and South Kupuna Loop closed, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Thursday. Drainage maintenance.

Moanalua. Ala Aolani Place and portions of Ala Aolani Street, Ala Lani street and place, Ala Kiao Place, Ala Iolani street and place, Kapulei Street, rehabilitation of streets and Moanalua water system improvements.

Nimitz Highway. One to two Honolulu-bound lanes closed between Sand Island Access Road, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday, resurfacing.

Pearl City. Waimano Home Road from Kamehameha Highway to Komo Mai Drive. Roadway repairs.

Pu'uloa Road. Shoulder lanes in both directions from Kamehameha Highway to Salt Lake Boulevard closed 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday. Possible lane closures may also occur in both directions along Pu'uloa Road near Kilihau Street, roadway repairs.

Sand Island Access Road. Town-bound lane closures along Sand Island concrete bridge. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Bridge work.

Waialua. Waialua Beach Road, street reconstruction.

Waipahu. Village Park Connector Road, construction of two-way road between Kupuna Loop in Village Park and Loa'a Street. Kahuanani Street, sewer replacement.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.