Give Workers A Break - Don't Drive Around Construction Barriers!

By Pat Biancaniello

Road work on Lake Avenue in Saint James may seem endless but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. According to project manager, Dave Clark, there is a chance that the  project may finish up by the end of October; not a moment too soon for Saint James residents.

Currently, Lake Avenue is being paved in segment, crews are working from north to south and trying to pave at times when traffic is historically light.

A section of Lake Avenue was paved Sunday, October 4th. For months, during the construction, the road looked like a war zone.  While it is now possible to drive on the road, paving will continue in segments with partial road closures in areas being paved until completion of the project.

Paving the road requires several large and smaller vehicles to be on the road, deliveries and manual spreading of hot asphalt. Paving also requires highway department workers. To protect the workers, barriers, barrels, tape and signage is set-up informing drivers to stay off the road. Despite incorporating every safety procedure possible some drivers find their way around the barriers and onto a construction site.

On Sunday a driver managed to go around all the safeguards ending up in the Lake Ave repaving construction zone. Quick thinking prevented injuries to the driver and workers. Nevertheless, what if the determined driver was not noticed?

Disregarding the barriers causes unnecessary risk to roadworkers and motorists. Drivers must use common sense, pay attention and follow directions. Everyone must do their part to keep Smithtown’s roadworkers safe; follow safe driving practices, including slowing down.

 If a road is barricaded, if there are barrels up, if there is signage indicating that the road is closed and lastly if you see heavy equipment and workers with bright shirts working on the street do not drive around them.