APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — “Safe actions save lives” is the message the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is sending to drivers.
It’s part of a campaign to reduce crashes and deaths in work zones across the state as construction season begins again in Wisconsin.
“When you can see a construction worker in bright orange and yellow, don’t just see a vest. See a person, see a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend,” Vinton Construction Safety Director Chad Heyduk said at a WisDOT event Monday marking the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Officials say drivers need to be more diligent and watch out for construction workers on Wisconsin highways.
“Every driver plays a role in work zone safety. Work zone safety isn’t just about slowing down for a few miles. It’s about respect. It’s about responsibility, and it’s about recognizing that a moment of impatience behind the wheel can change lives forever,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said.
According to WisDOT, in 2025, the Badger State saw more than 2,000 crashes in work zones, which resulted in over 600 injuries and seven deaths. Many of these crashes were caused by speeding, distracted driving or tailgating — meaning these crashes were preventable, WisDOT said.
“The next time you enter a work zone, make safety your priority. Not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. Because when we respect the work zone, we make sure everyone gets home,” Boardman said.
During Monday’s event, a black ribbon was tied to seven traffic cones to represent those who lost their lives in work zones last year. Drivers should always buckle up, put down their phones when behind the wheel and slow down when approaching work zones and construction areas.
Officials also discussed the ongoing construction work on I-41 between De Pere and Appleton. To help decrease crashes this year, WisDOT is running PSAs along the I-41 corridor to remind travelers about safe driving practices. New technology and equipment will help make drivers aware of their speed, and the state budget is funding a pilot project to evaluate new strategies for improving worker safety.
“We’ll monitor the effectiveness of emerging technology here and driver behavior in 10 different work zones across Wisconsin,” Boardman said.
The budget is also paying for new driver’s education courses to better prepare the next generation of safe drivers in Wisconsin construction zones.
Work on the I-41 project resumed last month. Project leaders say drivers should expect more closures than last summer, with most of them on overpasses and on- and off-ramps. By the end of the project in 2030, the whole freeway will be three lanes between Appleton and De Pere, which is why the bases of the overpasses need to be widened. The extra lane should improve time and safety.
