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Protecting Construction Workers in Interstate Construction Zones

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Thomas J. Madison Jr. and Regional Director Robert A. Dennison, P.E. were  joined today by  New York State Police Major William Carey, New York State Police Sergeant Robert Hogan, Senator Steve Saland, Assemblyman Patrick Manning and Construction Industry Council President Ross Pepe to promote safe driving in construction work zones.  “Slowing down, being alert and driving responsibly through construction work zones is critical to keeping highway workers, motorists and their passengers safe,” Commissioner Madison said.  “Governor George E. Pataki last year enacted tough new measures to encourage drivers to slow down and avoid the potentially deadly consequences of reckless driving through work zones.  We encourage drivers to follow the rules of the road throughout this construction season.” Today’s event was held at the Hosner Mountain Road construction work zone on the Taconic State Parkway. Governor Pataki last July signed into law the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, which promotes safety in New York’s highway work zones and increases penalties for those convicted of speeding within them.  The law was designed to enhance driver education, increase the accountability of drivers and create a more sensible work zone in which to travel. 

New York State Police Major William Carey said, “The State Police are strongly committed to making the work zones in New York Sate safe for workers and motorists.  The public should expect strict and visible enforcement of the reduced speed limits in work zones by Troopers throughout the State during the construction season.” “The Dangers inherent in working in a construction zone should not be compounded by reckless drivers,” said Senator Steve Saland (R,C-Poughkeepsie).  “As work is underway at Hosner  Mountain Road, it is critically important for motorists to be mindful of the ongoing project on this highly traveled road.  Adherence to highway work zones is not merely a courtesy, it is the law with serious consequences.  We must all work together to make these areas safer for workers and motorists alike.” “Time and time again we travel on highways such as the TSP giving little or no thought to those working inches from our cars.  These workers are there to insure our safety and we must do all that we can to insure their safety.  Not just for the workers, but for their families as well,”  said Assemblyman Patrick R. Manning (R-East Fishkill) “Too many workers are badly injured or die every year because drivers speed or don’t pay attention to work zone signs or flaggers. When entering a highway work zone, slow down, watch for trucks or equipment entering or exiting the work zone and save a life, perhaps even your own,” said Ross Pepe, Construction Industry Council President.

New York’s transportation agencies are continually working to improve safety and best practices within highway construction zones.  NYSDOT works to ensure that highway work, especially in urban areas, is conducted at off-peak hours when traffic is at a minimum.  A number of safety measures are taken to protect both workers and motorists alike.  These include modern flagging operations; use of concrete median barriers; bright orange cones and barrels to separate traffic from work space; highly reflective sheeting on orange work zone signs; rumble strips to alert motorists to road conditions; and reduced work zone speed limits with dedicated police enforcement. Other measures that promote safe driving through work zones on highways and bridges include the use of technologies such as electronic highway message signs to give advanced warning of work zones, highway advisory radio frequencies that broadcast work zone information, and real-time construction information at , enabling New Yorker’s to pinpoint the location of work zones they may encounter before they travel. The $7.3 million Hosner Mountain Road project will eliminate the Taconic State Parkway (TSP) grade crossing. The purpose of the project is to improve safety and reduce the accident rate at the TSP/Hosner Mountain Road crossing.  The project, which officially started on January 27, 2006, will permanently remove the existing intersections and replace them with a new bridge that will carry Hosner Mountain Road over the Parkway south of the existing crossing.  The project is schedule for completion in the summer of 2007.