CITY CONSIDERING TOUGHER WORK ZONE SAFETY MEASURES

As we near the end of the summer construction season and the 2015 Respect Work Zones campaign, the City is considering ways to make work zones safer for next year. These steps could include the use of larger, immovable barriers, and the possibility of a move to full street closures that would eliminate the single lane of traffic alongside construction sites.

“Although there have been some noticeable safety improvements with our short-term or moving work sites, many drivers still continue to disobey signage and enter active work zones at medium and longer-term sites,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “To make sure workers are safe, we have to consider stricter measures for next construction season.”

Work has been steadily progressing throughout the city on high traffic and residential streets. There have been few disruptions or schedule adjustments thanks to an overall favourable construction season, however there are still dozens of disruptions to work zone safety that happen each day. Most issues arise from:

• Drivers ignoring ‘Local Access Only’ signage which indicate only motorists with a destination on that street may enter;
• Drivers moving traffic barriers which protect workers and sites that may contain curing materials or work zone hazards;
• Drivers failing to reduce their speed and thereby increasing the likelihood of an accident with a worker or construction zone hazard.

Drivers have been charged for unsafe driving in a work zone even where there is no police presence. Work site cameras and workers record and report licence plates when safety is compromised.

“We would also like to remind everyone that just because work doesn’t appear to be underway in a construction zone, it doesn’t mean it’s complete,” says Gardiner. ”Because of many steps that can be involved in road work – paving for example, which takes time to cool and cure – it’s still considered an active work zone if signage and or barriers are in place.”

Despite challenges with work zone safety, the City has seen improvement at short-term/moving sites. This success has been attributed to better short-term work zone signage, crews using more safety cones and other site-marker tools, and more rigorous safety inspection requirements throughout each stage of a job. The City’s Respect Work Zones campaign also contributes to heightened awareness about work zone safety.

“Even when the summer construction season is complete, drivers will continue to see smaller work zones during the winter months,” says Gardiner. “These areas typically have less advance warning due to their emergency nature, but they still require full work zone safety compliance.”

The City would like to thank the citizens of Saskatoon for their patience during this construction season, and to urge everyone to respect work zones and obey work zone signage.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca and search Respect Work Zones.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE.