Slow Down For Workers As Construction Season Enters High Gear (Photo)
-04/21/25
Protect workers, protect yourself: slow down in work zones
The public servants building projects that improve our lives have family to protect and support, just like you. That’s why Portland Public Works is reminding the public to keep their distance from crews at work and slow down when traveling through work zones to mark the 2025 National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Construction season is kicking into high-gear, and crews will be out in neighborhoods across the city doing the critical work of improving, replacing, and maintaining our transportation, water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure that Portlanders rely on every hour of every day.
“Together, Portland’s Public Works teams—across transportation, water, sewer, and stormwater—are building and maintaining the infrastructure our city depends on,” said Deputy City Administrator for Public Works Priya Dhanapal. “These crews work hard, often in dangerous conditions, to serve all of us. We owe it to them to slow down and stay alert.”
Most people killed in work zone crashes are drivers and their passengers. In 2021, 778 drivers and their passengers died in work zones (based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data), making it even more important for drivers to slow down and stay focused while approaching and passing through a roadway work zone.
Work zones play a crucial role in separating construction and maintenance activities from traffic. They provide a safe area for workers and a safe route for all road users (people walking, bicycling, rolling, and driving. However, work zones also frequently involve changes in traffic patterns and rights of way. Those changes, combined with the presence of workers and the frequent movement of work vehicles, may lead to crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
Portland and cities across the nation continue to see a rise in fatal traffic crashes that defy historical trends. Through the Vision Zero program, the City of Portland and our partners are working to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets.
To further protect yourself and city workers from death and injury, the Public Works Service Area bureaus (PBOT, BES, and PWB) ask Portlanders to follow these safety steps:
- SLOW DOWN. Speed is the number one factor in fatal work zone crashes.
- GIVE SPACE. Don’t tailgate and keep clear of construction workers and equipment.
- PUT PHONES AWAY. Distraction is deadly—and illegal.
- FOLLOW THE SIGNS. Signs and flaggers are there for a reason.
- CHOOSE ANOTHER ROUTE. If you can, steer clear of active work zones.
- BE KIND. Expect delays and give crews grace—they’re working for you.
Watch this video from Public Works crews working to keep the street safe, the water on, and sharing why safety around work zones is so important: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPzP2XhmeCI
About National Work Zone Awareness Week
National Work Zone Awareness Week runs from April 21-25, 2025. Work zones play a key role in maintaining and upgrading Portland's roadways, water, and sewer infrastructure and more. Unfortunately, daily changes in traffic patterns, narrowed rights-of-way, and other construction activities often create a combination of factors resulting in crashes, injuries, and even fatalities. These crashes also cause excessive delays, especially given the constrained driving environment.
Recent statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration show that between 2020 and 2021, work zone fatalities increased by 10.8 percent while overall roadway fatalities increased by 10.3 percent.
About PBOT
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. Learn more at portland.gov/transportation.
About the Portland Water Bureau
The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost a million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 54 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 miles of pipes. With 600 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day.