By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
With a record-breaking amount of construction projects being done the Missouri Department of Transportation is encouraging people to drive safely in work zones.
Northwest District Engineer Marty Liles says last year the department saw fewer traffic crashes in work zones and he hopes that trend continues downward.
"But we continue to see time after time, these workzones and these fatalities in our work zones," Liles tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And it all goes back into motorists not necessarily paying attention, they're not moving over for those situations, they're not slowing down in those work zones as they're going through."
Across the state $1.8 Billion worth of road and bridge projects are being done this construction season
Liles says MoDOT has seen some accidents in work zones on I-29, I-35, and Highway 36.
"That's one of the reasons why we definitely want to make sure that as we get into the construction season and really start getting big into the construction season, we want to make sure that we get the awareness out to the public," Liles says. "It's one of the reasons why we do this work zone awareness every year."
MoDOT participates in Work Zone Awareness week every April.
Liles says it's a dangerous job for those working in those construction zones
"We've had a lot of construction workers, contract workers, MoDOT workers killed in the line of duty while they're out there doing that work," Liles explains.
MoDOT encourages drivers to buckle up and put their phones down while traveling through work zones
"You can text, you can do that once you get to your destination or before you leave that destination, but definitely keep your eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings," Liles says.
Liles says it's important to pay attention so workers and drivers alike can make it home safely every day.
