As Portland's construction season ramps up, city officials are urging drivers to exercise caution and patience on the roads. According to a recent statement by Deputy City Administrator for Public Works Priya Dhanapal, public works teams are intensifying efforts to improve and maintain essential infrastructure. “These crews work hard, often in dangerous conditions, to serve all of us. We owe it to them to slow down and stay alert,” Dhanapal emphasized.
With a sobering statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the city's release points out the stark reality that most fatalities in work zone crashes are indeed drivers and their passengers, with 778 deaths reported in 2021. Work zones, crucial for the safety of construction workers and the public, can be a source of confusion and danger due to shifting traffic patterns and active construction activities, as per the City of Portland. As a result, the city's Vision Zero program is doubling down on efforts to eliminate traffic fatalities on Portland's streets.
Guidelines laid out by the city offer straightforward advice to drivers: slow down, give construction workers and equipment space, avoid distractions like phones, follow all signs and signals, consider using alternative routes, and approach delays with understanding, as reported by the City of Portland. An accompanying video from the public works crews conveys the significance of safety around work zones, further emphasizing the human element behind the statistics and construction barriers.
