Spring is here, road construction projects throughout the city are under way and WorkSafeBC is reminding motorists to slow down in construction zones.
“B.C.’s roadside workers so important work improving and repairing infrastructure we all rely on and they deserve a safe work environment,” Labour Minister Harry Bains said in a press release. “I urge all drivers to be mindful of the hardworking people on our roads by slowing down and driving safely through any and all work zones.”
The Cone Zone campaign launched its eighth year Monday and runs throughout the spring and summer until the end of August. Vancouver police held an enforcement blitz in a construction zone on Fraser Street at East 29th Avenue Monday morning. Water and sewer upgrades have been ongoing along Fraser between King Edward and East 33rd Avenue for the last several months and is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
“This is really about changing driving behaviour on cone zones,” said Mark Ordeman, manager of industry and labour services at WorkSafeBC. “They [police] are looking specifically for people who aren’t slowing down, as you should in a construction zone, insuring that people aren’t distracted… as well as any other kind of undue care and attention or poor driving behaviour while driving through the cone zone.”
Last year, one roadside worker died after being hit by a car and 25 others were injured, Ordeman said. Between 2008 and 2017 a total of 12 roadside workers died and 218 were injured after being hit by a vehicle. Of those, 42 per cent were traffic controllers, 14 per cent were truck drivers and 10 per cent were construction workers.
Ordeman said motorists also need to be aware and slow down when passing first responders or tow-truck drivers.
“The driving public must also be vigilant when they come across vehicles with flashing lights,” he said. “If drivers see flashing blue, yellow or red lights they must slow down and move over to avoid harming workers such as first responders, tow-truck operators, and maintenance and utility crews.”
There are a number of major road work projects under way in the city this summer, including ongoing sewer upgrades on Smithe Street between Homer and Beatty, street improvements on Quebec Street and First Avenue, St. Catherine’s sewer trunk work is affecting East 39th and 40th avenues, as well as Prince Albert and St. Catherine’s streets, and gas line replacement work along East First Avenue.
jkerr@vancourier.com
