On September 20, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a notice for proposed rulemaking addressing a variety of work zone safety issues near highways. Many of the proposed changes aim to modernize standards that had last been updated in the early 2000s, but substantial changes were proposed for topics such as measuring safety standards, reviews of state DOT’s safety programs, and the use cases for positive protection devices.
AGC of America, in consultation with members and local chapters, provided feedback to FHWA emphasizing that the balance between mobility and safety near highway work zones should always skew in favor of the safety of the workers. AGC also showed support for the increased use of positive protection devices and advocated for their inclusion by state DOTs in significant construction zones.
Work zone safety continues to be one of the biggest concerns among highway contractors. In fact, 97 percent of contractors report that highway work zones are either as dangerous, or more dangerous, than they were a year ago. As areas near highway work zones experience a concerning rise in crashes, injuries, and fatalities over the past few years, AGC continues to focus on this vital priority in hopes of reversing this disturbing trend.
You can read the full comments that AGC of America put forth to FHWA by clicking here.
For more information, please contact Deniz.Mustafa@agc.org.