LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Ohio Department of Transportation is using this week to urge drivers to prepare for the busy construction season ahead.
Wednesday is “Go Orange Day,” part of National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual campaign that encourages drivers to slow down and stay alert in highway work zones. In 2025, there were more than 4,000 work zone crashes across the state, including 21 fatalities.
Officials say speeding and distracted driving remain two of the biggest factors behind those crashes.
Interstate 75 continues to see the highest number of work zone incidents, and the danger is growing for crews on the road. ODOT says 125 of its workers were hit in 2025, up from 84 the year before. Officials say speeding and distracted driving remain two of the biggest factors behind those crashes.
“This is the time of year when a lot of projects start, a lot of highway maintenance begins, and people are going to start seeing more work zones out there,” said Chris Hughes, deputy director for ODOT District 1. “We just want people to be courteous as they drive through these work zones and slow down and pay a little extra attention to make sure that those men and women in those work zones make it home safe.”
ODOT says the message is simple as construction picks up: slow down, move over when possible, and give crews the space they need to work safely.
