Police Cracking Down On Speeding In Construction Zone
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- No one likes the delays that come with construction zones, but PennDOT says that frustration is resulting in dangerous speeds in a work zone on Route 65.
"All it takes is one distracted driver to end a crew member's life or even their own," said Allen Smith with Lane Construction.
PennDOT is especially sensitive to this because the trend has not been encouraging.
"Allegheny County has seen an increase in work zone crashes over the last three years," explained Dan Cessna, a PennDOT District Executive.
There were 273 just in Allegheny County last year, and Route 65 shows all the signs of being a tragedy in waiting.
"We're getting speeds routinely through a 30 mile per hour construction zones upwards 50,55,60 miles per hour coming through this construction zone," said Sgt. Terry Donnelly.
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Drivers are passing within inches of lane construction company employees.
"They are local, they are your neighbors, friends and possibly your family working out here," Smith said.
So the hammer is coming down on speeding and aggressive and distracted drivers.
"We're going to out here on route 65 continuously," Sgt. Terry Donnelly said.
One officer will be stationed at the critical speeding point and others just down the road to pull over the offenders.
The police sway the situation on 65 is so serious the enforcement is going to begin immediately with no further warning.
