MoDOT asks travelers to 'Work with Us' in work zones as construction starts

ST. LOUIS -With more than $1 billion in roadway construction planned in the greater St. Louis area this year, travelers through the area can expect to see many work zones on state-maintained roads.

"We have work on nearly every major highway in the region as we work to take care of the system and ensure that roadways remain safe and operational. We ask that travelers 'Work with Us' by making safe, responsible choices behind the wheel and slowing down when driving through work zones," said Tom Blair, Missouri Department of Transportation St. Louis district engineer.

In 2023, 35 fatalities occurred in work zone crashes, the highest number of work zone fatalities in Missouri history. Distracted driving contributed to 588 work zone crashes and five of those fatalities. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and this week is National Work Zone Awareness Week occurring April 15-19.

"Your decisions as a driver can make the difference between arriving safely or having deadly consequences," said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. "Any time you pass workers on the roadway, remember that buckling up, leaving your phone at your side, slowing down and staying alert are the key behaviors to get everyone home safe every day."

Besides work zones for construction, crews are out daily mowing, patching potholes, picking up roadside debris and fixing signals, lights and guardrail. These short duration work zones can come up quickly. It's not just a courtesy to slow down and move over for these work zones-it's the law. Missouri's Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes, if safe to do so, when approaching MoDOT vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and any other emergency vehicle with lights flashing. If drivers can't change lanes safely, they must slow down as they pass the emergency vehicles. Drivers should be aware of changing traffic conditions, observe warning signs and merge before reaching lane closures.

The best way for travelers to protect themselves is by buckling up in any vehicle and for the driver to make sure they put their phone is down and they are paying attention to the roadway. At its core, the Buckle Up Phone Down initiative is about prioritizing personal safety. Forty-five percent of those killed in work zone crashes last year were not wearing a seat belt and the overall unbelted fatality rate so far in 2024 is the highest recorded in recent years. Everyone carries the responsibility of personal safety.

To help make your travel safer, visit MoDOT's Traveler Information Map at www.traveler.modot.org and find out what work zones you'll encounter before you go. Be sure to do your part to save lives in those work zones. Travelers can see construction work planned in the greater St. Louis area by visiting MoDOT St. Louis' weekly construction report or see more information on construction projects or search for specific information on MoDOT St. Louis projects.

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