Stay aware in work zones

With construction across the state in bloom this spring, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, industry partners, labor, local agencies and frontline construction workers today teamed up for National Work Zone Awareness Week to remind the public that “Safe Actions Save Lives.”

“At IDOT, we are doing more than ever this year to fix and modernize roads and bridges. Please remember to remain alert for work zones, slow down and give our crews plenty of room to do their jobs,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “The people wearing the vests behind the cones and barricades want to get home at the end of the day, just like you.”

The theme for this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is “Safe Actions Save Lives,” reinforcing the message that staying alert and anticipating changing conditions impact everyone in work zones – not just workers, but drivers and their passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. ​

At all times during construction season, the public should be ready for lane closures, reduced speed limits and the presence of workers and equipment. When you are behind the wheel and approach a work zone, eliminate all distractions, decrease your speed, adjust to new traffic patterns and proceed with care and consideration for others.

“Safety is a shared responsibility when driving through road construction work zones,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Already in the first three months of 2026, ISP alone has handled 640 crashes in work zones, 91 of which resulted in injuries. It’s simple: Slow down and pay attention when driving through work zones to keep road workers, you and other drivers safe.” ​ ​ ​

This year, IDOT and its partners are strengthening efforts to make work zones safer. A new initiative starting this week is a data feed to connect with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Work Zone Data Exchange, allowing providers such as Google, Apple and Waze to more easily share information on work zone activities with the public via mapping apps and notification systems in cabs of commercial vehicles.