November 8, 2024

By Lane Kimble

For the first time in 20 years, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is changing certain rules to try to prevent work zone crashes, injuries and deaths.

FHWA updated its Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule on Tuesday. The changes include requiring “positive protection devices,” such as temporary concrete barriers during construction, utility, and maintenance work along federally funded highway projects.

It also encourages using “work zone programmatic reviews” to look at construction safety.  These reviews are more data-driven and comprehensive, according to FHWA.

The proposed rules were published in mid-September and FHWA took feedback from state DOTs, industry workers, engineers, and more before they went final.