Staying Safe In The Cone Zone

Just drive around the metro, and it’s very clear construction season is here.
 
The North Dakota DOT wants to remind drivers the importance of staying safe in the cone zone.
 
It seems like there are two seasons here in North Dakota: winter and construction season. The North Dakota DOT says when it comes to driving, there’s not much difference between the two.
 
 
Just last year there were 155 crashes and one death in the work zone.

This year is the 4th largest construction program in the history of the DOT.

Officials are reminding drivers that work zones can change from day to night.

In fact just north of Fargo on I-29, workers will shift traffic head-to-head in the northbound lanes starting tomorrow. Just another reason, they’re asking drivers to slow down and be patient.

“We’ve got a very, very busy construction season ahead of us and unfortunately during the construction season on occasion there are crashes that occur,” says ND DOT Director, Grant Levi.
 
“We want everyone to get through this construction season healthy, we don’t want any fatalities, and just remember that today’s minor inconvenience when you’re going through a construction project is just a minor inconvenience for tomorrow’s improved future ride,” says Associated General Contractors, Russ Hanson.

This season is the 4th largest construction program in the history of the DOT, with construction projects going on across the state.

If you plan on traveling, officials recommend checking out the DOT’s website to find a complete listing of all construction sites in the state.
 
While the DOT has a number of safety tips like don’t tailgate and turn your headlights on, their number one piece of advice is something we’ve all heard before.

If you’re driving in the cone zone put down your phone.