Construction workers could be in more danger on the road during the pandemic

Indiana Department of Transportation said there may be fewer drivers, but they are driving more recklessly.

Putting their workers at greater risk.

The covid-19 pandemic means fewer travelors on the road... but it doesn't mean construction workers are safe.

Good evening and thanks for joining us.

Even the middle of a pandemic..

Roads are being worked on all over the wabash valley.

News 10's sarah lehman is live in our newsroom.

She talked with the indiana department of transportation today.

She has more on vwhat you need to be on the look out for while you're behind the wheel across the state there may be fewer drivers on the road.

But -- that doesn't mean construction workers are in less danger.

Indot says they're actually more concerned right now -- amid the covid-19 pandemic.

Every year parts of the road are updated with construction.

It starts to happen around spring and summer.

This year -- we were on stay at home orders and in the middle of a pandemic.

"construction has been underway even with every body staying at home" the indiana department of transportation is not taking a break.

They have some major projects going on all across the state of indiana right now.

"as people travel around our state we have over 11 hundred construction projects that are going to be under way this year."

Debbie calder is the communications director for indot in our area.

She says with fewer people on the road you would think construction workers would be safer.

But that's not always the case.

"it's something we're hearing from the indiana state police and other agencies that people are just driving way too fast because there are less people out on the roadways."

Here in the wabash valley we have already seen construction starting.

Barrells line u.s. 41 in terre haute and interstate 70 near brazil indiana.

Calder says no matter where it is or what work they are doing -- everyone needs to be careful.

"please obey the rules of the roadway the speed limits definitely and in work zones we'll have reduced speed limits so pay attention to the signs.

/// calder says it's a matter of life and death.

"be very mindful of that.

Please watch for those signs, orange barrels, slow down pay attention, and get your self safely through those construction zones and our work zones.

You can get to your destination safely and our workers can get home safely as well."

Calder says indot will be working on construction at night.

She says that's to help traffic during the day.

It's important to be even more careful during these hours if you're driving in a work zone.

Meanwhile -- meanwhile -- you may have noticed these you may have meanwhile -- meanwhile -- you may have noticed these out on roads all across terre haute.

They are indot counters.

Calder says it's something they do about every 3 years.

It happens all across the state.

She says it's just to get a feel of day to day traffic in those areas.

Reporting live in the newsroom.

I'm sarah lehman news 10 back to you.

The threat of covid-19 is still very real and we need to do all that we can to prevent the spread of