Making roads safer for construction workers

Now that spring is here construction crews will resume working and that will mean setting up roadway work zone areas. Slow-moving traffic is frustrating, but slowing down near work zones is important to the safety of utility and other roadside work crews.

In 2015, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) reported 646 crashes in capital construction work zones on New York State roads and bridges, resulting in six motorist fatalities and 147 injuries to motorists, contractor employees and NYSDOT staff. There were 12 injuries in 77 work zone crashes that occurred in maintenance zones.

National Work Zone Awareness Week began in 1999 when the Federal Highway Administration the American Traffic Safety Services Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials joined forces to increase public awareness of work-zone safety issues. The 17th annual Work Zone Awareness Week was held April 11-15 this year.

A National Grid gas construction crew working in Oceanside showed how dangerous it could be working in traffic, what precautions they take to prevent incidents, how zones are set up and the responsibilities of all drivers when approaching and passing through them.

High-visibility garments and bright work zone lighting help improve worker visibility in work zones and help create a safer environment for both workers and motorists. Additionally, National Grid has started using illuminated "stop" and "slow" signs to increase the visibility of electric and gas crews.

“We want our employees who to go home safely at the end of every day and we want motorists to be safe on the road," said Ron Goebel, supervisor of operations.

President of the Associated General Contractors of New York State Mike Elmendorf said, "Every day there are hundreds of active construction projects across the state. Some have complex tasks and significant work zone controls. We urge the traveling public to eliminate any distractions and focus their attention on the road and the work zone controls. Everyone’s lives depend upon it."