DOT increases safety at North Carolina highway construction site

North Carolina officials are increasing safety measures at a multi-million dollar construction site in Moore County. Charlotte residents may be aware of the project which will widen about seven miles of the highway. It began late last year and is expected to continue until mid-2014.

In order to avoid motor vehicle accidents on the site, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is changing the speed limit among other things throughout the zone. Motor vehicle traffic in construction zones poses a great risk to construction workers and it is important to avoid these workplace accidents.

Not only will the speed limit be reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone, but DOT workers will also place rumble strips across the highway during daytime when lanes are closed. For those unfamiliar with the concept, these strips ensure drivers slow down and take into account upcoming changing road conditions. It is important to drive over the strips rather than around them or stop at them. Their main aim is to increase a driver’s alertness on the road, for which reason drivers are encouraged to go across them.

Certain stretches of the lanes will also be closed at night during the weekend while construction work takes place. However, it is still possible that despite all these precautions drivers may not take into account changing road conditions and an accident may ensue.

When a construction worker is injured by a motor vehicle on the job site, he or she is wise to contact a workers’ compensation attorney as it can be difficult to ensure worksite injury claims are paid properly.

Source: Fay Observer, “Safety measures added to N.C. 211 widening project in Moore County,” Todd Leskanic, April 25, 2012