IDAHO NATIONAL
Idaho
Transportation |
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keep highway construction As winter gives way to spring and temperatures gradually rise, ITD crews make the transition from plowing snow and applying anti-icer to filling potholes, re-striping highways, repairing bridges and guardrails. Those efforts are part of the department’s broader emphasis to operate a safe, efficient and reliable transportation system that extends to public transportation alternatives and commercial airports and recreational airstrips. Operating that system includes some inherent risks. They are no more evident than on our highways during spring and summer construction. Every day, our employees – along with those from local highway districts, cities and counties, and private construction firms – place themselves in harm’s way to ensure safe, reliable transportation for the public. That danger became tragically real last month when two ITD employees who were en route to a day of regular highway maintenance, were killed in a two-vehicle crash south of Grangeville. U.S. 95 was their construction zone, and they gave their lives working to make it safer. The Idaho Transportation Department joins the Associated General Contractors, Ada County Highway District, the Idaho State Police and other highway districts throughout the state in urging motorists to use extreme caution while traveling through highway construction areas. Our goal is to reduce work zone crashes and fatalities by reminding motorists of the hazards involved and asking them to drive with caution. We will have succeeded when everyone – including motorists and construction workers – arrives home safely at the end of the day. Whenever possible, we try to minimize the impact of highway construction on drivers by doing the work at night and during off-peak commute hours. It is extremely important for motorists to use caution when traveling through construction zones, regardless of the time of day or night. Idaho drivers have consistently demonstrated patience
and understanding when traveling through work zones. Largely because
of their efforts, we enjoy a low rate of accidents related to highway
construction. As work resumes throughout the state this spring, we renew
our commitment to create, maintain and operate a transportation system
that is safe for all travelers. |