More road construction — and workers –expected this season than in years past

Yahoo

24-04-2025

CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) – If you think you're seeing more orange cones and barrels and road construction zones this season, you're right.
'There's definitely more activity out there than there has been in the last few years,' said Matt McMullen, superintendent of the Ohio Turnpike Commission.
It's National Work Zone Awareness Week, and workers were in action along the Ohio Turnpike in Canfield on Thursday.
Since 2020, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has handled nearly 23,000 crashes in construction areas — 1,200 of them just on the turnpike. In all, 8,348 workers were hurt and 104 killed in Ohio work zone crashes in the last five years.
'Every day you're out here is, head on a swivel — ready to react,' McMullen said.
The flagger with this crew even carried an air horn to warn the others in case a vehicle came into the zone.
McMullen is a 30-year veteran on the turnpike and says a lot has changed, with more drivers having less focus on the road ahead.
'Cell phones weren't popular back then. They didn't do what they did and there's certainly a lot of distractions out there that weren't here 25 years ago,' he said.
Although technology in newer cars — such as lane assistance and slowing you down automatically as you get closer to something in front of you — may make driving more convenient, experts worry it can also make us more complacent.
Officials remind us to put down our phones, watch our speed and avoid tailgating vehicles in front of us.
'Keep in mind that the highway patrol will have units out daily in and around the construction zones,' said Lt. Philip Robinson, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
For those who forget or just ignore the rules, the penalties will be stiff.
'It's something that you need to take into consideration before you drive into a construction zone. Fines are doubled when the construction zone is active,' Robinson said.
All of this is aimed at ensuring road workers go home to their families when their shifts are over.
Overhead bridge project: Bridge at Boardman-Canfield Road/US Route 224 (milepost 227.6) will be replaced. Start date is April 1, 2025, end date is August 16, 2026. Traffic will be maintained on the bridge with one lane in each direction.
Pavement replacement project: From milepost 212.76 to 216.25. Start date is April 1, 2025, end date is November 4, 2025. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction. The Toll Plaza 215 (Lordstown-West) eastbound exit ramp will be closed for 60 days starting in August.
List: All scheduled projects on the Ohio Turnpike throughout the state
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