Frequently Asked Questions
About Highway Work Zones

Why are the roads always being worked on?

It sometimes seems that way but we have to repair damage from accidents, prolong the life of the highway and maintain the existing highways.  We do safety projects, reconstruct old roads and build new ones.  Smoother highways are safer and save drivers money.

Why should I slow down when driving through a work zone, when no one else does?

Two wrongs don't make a right.  You should slow down even if other traffic is speeding through the work area.  As long as motorists continue to ignore the work area's speed restrictions, the likelihood of accidents and injuries occurring to highway workers, drivers and passengers remains.

Why must I slow down and change lanes a mile before a work site?

To protect you and the construction workers, we must warn drivers as far in advance as possible of traffic changes.  We begin merging and shifting traffic out of the lane in which we are working at least one-half mile before the work area.  This way, even a distracted driver has time to move over safely and avoid the work area.

Why do you close two lanes when you're only working on one?

Usually, we only close the lane in which we are working.   But some operations, such as concrete patching and joint sealing, require an additional lane be closed to provide room to work and do the job safely.

Sometimes there are work area signs, but no work is going on.  Why?

Signs are usually posted only when work is going on.  Long-term construction projects are the exception.  Also, some projects cover many miles, and work may not be underway in all sections at the same time and traffic flows more safely when a uniform speed is maintained throughout the work zone.  In other situations, crews are not always visible, as they may be working under a bridge.

Why are several people standing around and only one working?

That's mostly a misconception.  Construction and maintenance crews work hard.   Projects often require many specialized skills performed by a variety of people such as equipment operators, flaggers, laborers and inspectors.  While all these people are necessary to do the job, they cannot always work at the same time.  On a busy roadway, hundreds of people will pass by the crew in a single minute, and often they'll talk about "that lazy road crew."

Why not close the road you're working on?

We try to minimize inconvenience to the public by avoiding, as much as possible, lengthy detours that can result in increased expense and travel time.  We only close roads when it is absolutely necessary to perform the work.

Who's paying for all this construction?

You are through your federal, state and local taxes.