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Lake County utilities department highlights work-zone safety during National Work Zone Awareness Week
Summary
The utilities department briefed commissioners on work-zone safety, noting up to 75 employees work in zones daily and roughly 300 excavations occur annually; staff urged drivers to slow down and pay attention near work crews.
A representative of the Lake County Department of Utilities told the Board of Commissioners that National Work Zone Awareness Week coincided with recent increases in visible traffic-control setups and urged motorists to slow down and avoid distractions when passing work crews.
The utilities representative said the department has as many as 75 employees working in work zones on a daily basis and conducts about 300 excavations annually for waterline or sewer-main repairs and road repairs resulting from those activities. The speaker emphasized that while the department provides training on trench safety and confined-space entry, driver behavior in traffic work zones is a primary safety concern.
“...when you see the traffic zones set up, it’s not a time to speed up to try to get in front of the car in front of you,” the speaker said, urging drivers to slow down and avoid using phones in work zones so that crews return home safely.
Commissioner Beveridge agreed and said he avoids an area on Vine Street where lane designations create confusion for some drivers. The utilities speaker and commissioners encouraged public awareness of work-zone rules and safe driving around maintenance and construction operations.
