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Work zone safety: Everyone plays a part
This month, we’re focusing on a fundamental priority: the safety of the workers on the job site and the safety of the drivers traveling through the construction area.
If you are a regular reader of these articles about the I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project, you have probably (and accurately) concluded that seismically upgrading and widening a bridge used by roughly 100,000 vehicles daily is exceptionally challenging. Over the months, we have introduced you to some of the talented people, strategic considerations, and innovative programs that ODOT relies upon to make this project happen. This month, we’re focusing on the fundamental priority upon which everything else rests--the safety of the workers and the safety of the drivers transiting the construction area.
Our approach to safety can be broken down into three core pillars—worker safety training and equipment, roadway management, and safe driver behavior. Combined, these pillars complement each other and comprise the overarching framework ODOT uses to keep everyone safe.
An overnight concrete pour is underway on the Abernethy Bridge.
Worker Safety Training and Equipment
Everyone working on the job site, from the newest apprentices to the most seasoned workers, participates in mandatory and ongoing safety-related training. These sessions focus on safe job site procedures, the proper use of safety equipment, and the correct storage and use of hazardous materials. Additionally, these trainings emphasize the proactive communication and situational awareness skills needed to safely work in this environment, including working around massive machines and over, on, and under the Willamette River. Augmenting this training and providing workers with the needed safety equipment is a team of job site inspectors who ensure best practices are used consistently across all job classifications.
Roadway Management
I-205 is a vital artery of national importance. For this reason, except for the planned 2025 bridge slide and other directional, short-term closures, construction work is happening while the interstate remains open to minimize driver inconvenience. The second safety pillar pertains to safely managing these vehicles' passage through the work zone. ODOT and its contractors employ multiple strategies, including reducing speeds in the construction area and erecting barriers and other traffic control devices to funnel vehicles away from locations where work is actively occurring. The project has installed easy to understand signs and striping to help drivers know what to do, including at night and in the rain. The construction team coordinates with ODOT’s Traffic Management Operations Center (TMOC) to activate messaging on the permanent and portable dynamic signs approaching the construction area. These signs also provide real-time information on traffic conditions and the availability of alternate routes, if necessary. TMOC also feeds information that is available via TripCheck.
Safe Driver Behavior
The third pillar cannot be overemphasized--the need for drivers to act responsibly at all times, including when navigating through construction areas. Drivers must adhere to posted speeds, leave enough space between vehicles, limit distractions such as cell phones, and refrain from driving impaired. ODOT appreciates the assistance of the Oregon State Police and the local jurisdictions in enforcing safe driving habits within the construction area. Despite the project’s safety vigilance, collisions can still occur, and when they do, the project team analyzes each event to identify lessons learned that will hopefully prevent future events.
On a project like this, ensuring everyone returns home safely requires all three core pillars to function effectively. We thank our crews for their unwavering commitment to safety, and we count on drivers to do their part to keep everyone safe, as well.