If you look hard enough you can almost see orange cones sprouting right up out of the ground. The smell of asphalt is in the air. Ongoing construction projects are growing all over the District 3 ten-county area during this busy spring season faster than you can say "watch out for that flagger."

In conjunction with National Work Zone Safety Week April 23-27, the Department of Highways District 3 Office would like to remind motorists to slow down and pay attention while driving through construction work zones. Because there is a really good chance the flagger out there on the job is someone's mom or daughter.

Each year, over 40,000 people in the United States – moms, dads, sons and daughters – are injured in highway work zones, and hundreds are killed. The average is a death every 13 hours and hundreds of injuries every 13 minutes.

The past three years in Kentucky, 16 people died and 285 people were injured in highway construction and maintenance work zones.

Work zones involve more than highway crews. They also involve utility crews, mowing contractors, brush cutters and tree trimmers, to name a few. Eighty-five percent of those killed in work zones are not the workers but motorists.

Several large construction projects are currently under way in District 3:

• Warren: Scottsville Road interchange reconstruction at Interstate 65
• Edmonson/Barren: Interstate 65 widening from four to six lanes between the Cumberland Parkway and Cave City
• Monroe/Metcalfe: KY 163 reconstruction from Bushong to KY 90 in Metcalfe County
• Barren: KY 90 reconstruction from Glasgow to KY 2198
• Warren: US 31W reconstruction between the Natcher Parkway and Dillard Road

The department asks motorists to practice 10 work zone safety tips:

Expect the unexpected.
Slow down.
Don't tailgate. Keep a safe distance between vehicles.
Keep a safe distance from workers and equipment.
Pay attention to signs.
Obey road crew flaggers.
Stay alert and minimize distractions.
Keep up with the traffic flow.
Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to www.511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.
Be patient and stay calm.

• Monroe/Metcalfe: KY 163 reconstruction from Bushong to KY 90 in Metcalfe County

• Barren: KY 90 reconstruction from Glasgow to KY 2198

• Warren: US 31W reconstruction between the Natcher Parkway and Dillard Road

The department asks motorists to practice 10 work zone safety tips:

Expect the unexpected.
Slow down.
Don't tailgate. Keep a safe distance between vehicles.
Keep a safe distance from workers and equipment.
Pay attention to signs.
Obey road crew flaggers.
Stay alert and minimize distractions.
Keep up with the traffic flow.
Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to www.511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.
Be patient and stay calm.