The holidays are a time when city crews halt roadwork on bustling commercial corridors so as not to disrupt shoppers and businesses during the height of the shopping season.

The Department of Public Works today issued a moratorium on street excavation and construction between Thursday and Jan. 3.

“During this time, DPW will not issue street excavation permits to private contractors and halts its own road construction work on busy commercial corridors,” DPW said in a statement.

Exceptions are made for emergencies or if local businesses opt to continue minor road or sidewalk construction work, DPW said. Projects may continue on streets with less than 50 percent commercial use, it said.