Illinois agencies launch Work Zone Awareness Week to promote safety during construction season
The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Tollway joined industry partners and frontline workers on April 21 to begin National Work Zone Awareness Week, emphasizing the theme "Safe Actions Save Lives." The initiative marks the start of construction season across the state and seeks to remind motorists to stay alert and cautious in work zones.
The campaign aims to reduce crashes and injuries in work zones by raising public awareness about the risks faced by both workers and travelers. Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed April 20-24 as "Work Zone Safety Awareness Week" in Illinois.
Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said, "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. The people wearing the vests behind the cones and barricades want to get home at the end of the day, just like you."
State officials report that so far in 2026, there have been 640 crashes in work zones handled by Illinois State Police, with 91 resulting in injuries. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said, "Safety is a shared responsibility when driving through road construction work zones... It’s simple: Slow down and pay attention when driving through work zones to keep road workers, you and other drivers safe."
New measures include connecting with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Work Zone Data Exchange so mapping apps can provide real-time information about ongoing activities. Other efforts involve expanding photo enforcement vans, assigning additional troopers near construction sites, deploying temporary rumble strips before projects begin, lighting landmarks orange statewide for awareness week observance, and distributing informational materials at rest areas.
Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway said: "At the Illinois Tollway, safety is at the core of everything we do... Slowing down, staying alert and avoiding distractions in work zones protects everyone on the road. When we each take responsibility, we help ensure everyone gets home safely."