Staff photo / R. Michael Semple... Construction continues on the diverging diamond project at state Routes 82 and 46 in Howland. Workers operating heavy equipment while moving within the construction zone can be in harm’s way as traffic continues to flow on the busy highways.

WARREN — Road workers are asking that motorists passing through work zones always be cautious of those carrying out construction operations nearby.

Last year, 4,098 work zone-related crashes took place in Ohio with 36% occurring when workers were present. There were 1,433 injuries from work zone-related crashes, 110 of them classified as serious injuries. And nine people were killed, including one contractor, according to statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

ODOT representatives, local officials and workers shared advice for Mahoning Valley residents over the last few days, in recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week, which ended Friday.

ODOT District 4 Public Information Officer Ray Marsch said Friday, “For a pothole, or if we have a permanent closure for long-term road construction, you have to be attentive because work zones constantly change.”

Marsch continued, “The main thing we always want folks to do is eliminate those distractions when behind the wheel and be attentive while you’re driving. Follow what the signs say.”

National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through work zones.

Last year’s statistics channeled this year’s theme of “Work Zones are Temporary. Actions Behind the Wheel Can Last Forever.”

Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith said that since he started in his position in August 2011, no work zone-related accidents that have injured employees have occurred.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” Smith said. “But on the other hand, we also take it very seriously. All of the new hirees are trained with video on proper flagging techniques, and so forth. They’re provided with the appropriate equipment, as far as the stop and go paddles. They know they have to wear a vest.”

Smith said that last year the National Safety Council presented useful information through safety classes to the Trumbull County labor force. A 12-minute video also is played annually at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds urging the public to be mindful of work zones. The video is available on the county road department’s website.

“Supervisors have routine discussions with employees before the start of the workday about the job and expectations,” Smith continued. “They’re reminded, especially on a high traffic-volume road, that they always have to be paying attention for a distracted driver, a medical emergency, or something of that nature. And we do have a ‘no cellphone’ policy, so our employees are not distracted as they’re working.”

“You feel like you can’t say it enough to folks that the roadway is our workers’ office,” Marsch said about the state’s message to the public. “They’re working just feet away, and anything you do, whether it’s putting down the distractions or being attentive behind the wheel, all of that helps keep our roadside workers safe because they want to get home at the end of the day.”

HIGHWAY CAUTION

For highway workers such as ODOT Highway Technician 4 Jason Barthol, daily experiences near drivers moving at high speeds bear the potential to be deadly.

During a District 4 Work Zone Awareness Week press conference Thursday, Barthol gave examples of multiple situations where he witnessed dangerous events unfold.

“Over those 18-and-a-half years, in various projects that I’ve worked on for the department, I’ve seen a few things,” Barthol began his segment. “I had a drunk driver come up behind me, no idea they were there. They struck several barrels and signs that were right beside me. I didn’t even have enough time to jump out of the way before they were already gone.”

Barthol continued to present his own memories of dangerous driver decisions, including incidents of drivers ignoring signs and closures on state Route 303, driving the wrong way, and almost striking other drivers and people; and having to dive over a cable rail to avoid being struck on Interstate 76 after a driver damaged multiple barrels.

He also mentioned an accident in which he almost was struck by debris. “I was in a pickup truck parked beside the barrier wall finishing some paperwork and reports for the day,” Brothel said. “And a loose piece of material from a passing vehicle came off that vehicle, went through the back window of my truck and landed in the passenger seat.”

Barthol explained that drivers should be aware at all times while passing through.

“Work zones look different, some are long term, some are short term, some are delineated with barrels and cones,” Barthol said. “Some have a portable concrete barrier. Weather conditions can change the way a work zone looks as you’re driving through.

“All that we ask is that you don’t get complacent while you’re driving through our work zones, and give us the respect that you would give anyone else in any other office, because like it or not, this is our office.”

Barthol concluded, “I have two kids at home and a wife. My daughter’s 16, my son’s 10. They both depend on me to come home safe. Every night, every worker in every zone has a family that they want to go home to. Each one of those workers has a story.”

The road worker also thanked all drivers who retreat from distractions, slow down and move over with enough time to go through work zones safely.

LOWER SPEEDS

While most drivers using township roads do not reach speeds higher than 35 to 40 mph, Austintown Township Administrator Mark D’Apolito explained that safety standards and public encouragement are maintained to keep road workers safe.

Furthermore, while township signs are usually less attention-grabbing than highway signs, which use electronic messaging, “We have one of those in the entire township,” D’Apolito said.

In comparison to county roads and state highways, D’Apolito referenced that township roads in areas like Austintown or Boardman do not face as many issues with work-zone wreckage.

“What they do is inherently dangerous working around traffic,” D’Apolito said. “Our road workers have carried out their duties as safely as possible from the time that I have been here, as far as I’m aware.”

Trumbull County Road Department laborer Gus Sutton, 22, has nine months of experience working on county roads throughout townships.

Sutton said that in his time with the department, he has watched one crash occur close to his work zone, on New Road in Austintown.

“As I was sending my traffic through the work zone, I flipped the sign I was holding to ‘Stop’ during a gap in traffic,” Sutton said. “An elderly woman driving toward me while I was showing stop must not have seen me. She was not slowing down at all. As she got closer, I jumped out of the way, and then she swerved into the other lane, nearly striking our backup vehicle.”

Sutton went on to explain that the woman’s car struck the previous car that he sent to pass before her.

“Airbags shot off,and the ambulance was called,” Sutton said. “This accident could have easily hurt any of our workers out on the road if she didn’t end up swerving.”

Cellphone-use infractions, Sutton said, are among the most potentially dangerous actions by dreivers. The state’s “phones down” law, as of October 2023, considers the use of or holding a cellphone or electronic device in a driver’s hand, lap, or other parts of the body while driving on Ohio roads to be illegal.

“I’ve seen too many people on their phones while driving up to work zones, not seeing flaggers, and slamming on their brakes at the last second,” Sutton said.

“Stay off the phone, especially when you see that you are entering a work zone. Also, when driving past a work zone, slow down. People drive past work zones flying because they are in a rush, and if a piece of equipment accidentally moved, or a person would walk out on the road, there could be no time to react and someone could get injured.”

WATCH FOR PROJECTS

Area road workers will be busy this construction season with the two largest projects featured on the ODOT District 4 2024 Construction Guide: the diverging diamond interchange at state Routes 46 and 82 in Howland and the resurfacing of Interstate 680, from Gibson Street to just south of U.S. Route 224, throughout Youngstown and Boardman.

Marsch explained that in June, the state Route 82 westbound bridge will be opened and traffic will be shifted back onto it.

While demolishing the old state Route 82 eastbound bridge and rebuilding it, Marsch warned, “As you’re driving through that zone, there are lane restrictions because the one bridge is down.”

He continued, “As you’re going through there, be cautious, reduce your speed and be attentive as you’re behind the wheel because these lane restrictions impact your daily driving.”

Relating to the I-680 project, Marsch added that it also will see lane restrictions.

“We’re going to be working lane by lane,” Marsh said. “So as you’re driving along 680 throughout these summer months, our construction zone will be changing depending on where our crews and the contractor is. It is very vital for folks who travel along 680 everyday to just be attentive and just watch out for our work zones.”

STATEWIDE

Speeding continues to be a major factor in work-zone crashes, according to ODOT. In 2023, the Ohio State Highway Patrol wrote 3,760 citations with 34% for speeds more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit.

“Driving requires all your attention, but that is especially true in work zones where things can change quickly. Drop the distractions, obey the speed limit, and allow extra room between your vehicle and the one in front of you,” ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said.

“Our troopers are fully committed to looking for those dangerous behaviors such as distracted driving and unsafe speed within work zones. It is critically important that motorists remember to observe work zone speed limits and traffic signs,” Col. Charles A. Jones, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent, said.

“It’s been said before, first responders – and roadside workers – are willing to give their lives in service to others, but they would much rather live a life of service,” Jones said.

August 2023 was the top month for work-zone crashes with 523. Summit County led the state with 576, followed by Cuyahoga County with 521 and Lucas County with 413. By far, the top work-zone crash type continues to be rear-end crashes.

“We appreciate the Ohio State Highway Patrol and our law enforcement partners for their continued efforts to help make our work zone safe for the workers behind the barrels, and the traveling public,” ODOT District 4 Deputy Director Gery Noirot said.

So far this year, 43 ODOT crews have been struck while working. This compares to 56 ODOT crews hit all of last year.

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