PennDOT urges motorists to be alert for and during upcoming roadway projects
Construction season will soon start in the area, with the state Department of Transportation asking for drivers to be patient and cautious in construction areas.
The state Department of Transportation released its list of road projects for the year, with representatives cautioning drivers to be aware as they travel through construction.
A spokesman for the state Department of Transportation蘑菇视频 local district said the start of orange cone season is just around the corner.
Jay Ofsanik, safety press officer for PennDOT District 12, said motorists should expect to see the start of road work and construction in the next two weeks. District 12 covers Fayette, Greene, Washington and Fayette counties, each of which have several planned projects.
As construction projects start, Ofsanik said it becomes increasingly important for motorists to remain alert 鈥� for their safety and the safety of the crews doing the work. From 2013 to 2017, Ofsanik said there have been 99 fatalities statewide in work-zone vehicle accidents. Of those fatalities, 10 were PennDOT employees.
鈥淚 tell people obviously our first concern is for our workers as they鈥檙e vulnerable, but, in reality, motorists are more likely to have a fatal crash in a work zone,鈥� Ofsanik said, adding that the number of fatalities fluctuated a bit in the past five years, but they still happen.
Drivers need to have headlights on in construction zones, even during the day, so workers can better see the vehicles as they approach. And while the reduced speed limits and delays may frustrate drivers, it蘑菇视频 a necessary to ensure safety and properly do the work.
鈥�(Motorists are) driving into an area, and they鈥檙e surrounded by pedestrians,鈥� Ofsanik said, noting the vests and hardhats that workers wears don鈥檛 protect them from a car. 鈥淲hen you see signs that say 鈥楻oad Work Ahead鈥� and 鈥楤e Prepared to Stop鈥�, take those signs seriously and begin slowing down.鈥�
Also of great importance is distracted driving as Ofsanik said people still decide to text or otherwise play with their phones while driving.
鈥淲e ask them when they see signs for a work zone, put the phone down,鈥� Ofsanik said. 鈥淚f no other time, please put the phone down when entering a work zone. This is the one place where you aren鈥檛 going to have extra time to react if you鈥檙e not looking at traffic.鈥�
PennDOT蘑菇视频 annual report of local projects for the year include several in each of the four area counties. Some of the highlights include:
Fayette County:
n Construction work on the bridge that carries Route 201 over Virgin Run in Franklin Township between Town County Road and Cemetery Road. The existing bridge structure will be replaced along with construction of the approach roadway. Traffic for the $1.18 million project will be reduced to single lane between April 1 and Nov. 15.
n The $12.4 million Ohiopyle Multimodal Gateway Project to improve the Route 381 corridor my minimizing conflict points.
n Widening Route 21 for a turning lane between S&T Drive and Footdale Road in Menallen Township, which includes moving existing drainage for the $1 to $2 million project.
Greene County:
n A $5 million project of a superstructure replacement contract for three bridges in the county including abutment rehabilitation, beam replacement, deck replacement and minor approach work.
Washington County:
n A superstructure replacement contract for three bridges in Washington County. Work on the $5,3 million project consists of abutment rehabilitation, beam replacement, deck replacement, minor approach work and other miscellaneous construction.
Westmoreland County:
n A project in both Mount Pleasant and Bullskin Township in Fayette involving milling, base repair, bituminous overlay, tree trimming, guide rail, updating ADA ramps, upgrading the signal at the intersection of Route 31, and replacing existing inlets, cleaning existing cross pipes, delineation and replacing signage on Route 982. Also, at the intersection of Route 31 and Route 1009 the turnaround will be milled and paved. Additional drainage will be added to Route 1009 south of the turnaround. The $1 to $2 million project is scheduled to be bid in March 2019 and will be constructed in the 2019 season.
Throughout the summer, Ofsanik said PennDOT will partner with state police for its Operation Yellow Jacket program. Troopers wearing civilian clothing are given a hardhat and yellow vest and sit in or on the side of a work zone with a radar gun, checking vehicle speeds and watching for other traffic violations.
Ofsanik said last year, an 18-hour window for Operation Yellow Jacket along Interstate 70 for a project in Bentleyville produced around 200 citations.
鈥淲e hope to do a couple more this year,鈥� Ofsanik said.