Newtown has been seeing an uptick in road work that is frequently channeling drivers through work zones.

According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT), “A work zone is an area where roadwork takes place and may involve lane closures, detours, and moving equipment. Highway work zones are set up according to the type of road and the work to be done on the road. The work zone can be long- or short-term and can exist at any time of the year, but most commonly in the summer.”

One of the biggest projects taking place in Newtown right now is the multi-faceted Exit 11 reconstruction that involves a variety of tree cutting, excavating, and road paving in different areas.

Newtown resident and Police Commission member Neil K. Chaudhary, PhD, is an expert in the field of traffic safety. He is a member of Connecticut’s teen safe driving committee, occupant protection task force, and DUI task force.

Professionally, he is the CEO of Preusser Research Group, Inc (PRG). The Trumbull-based company is a full-service traffic safety research firm.

“Our biggest client is [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] followed by many state contracts including Connecticut … PRG does all aspects of behavioral traffic safety research including past work for CT DOT on work zone safety,” Chaudhary explained.

His data shows that since 2015 there was a total of 26 crashes in work zones investigated by the Newtown Police Department, half of which were rear-end vehicle collisions.

“These crashes needed to reach a certain reporting threshold to be included in the state’s crash database, meaning that they either had at least a possible injury or reached a property damage cost total at a minimum threshold,” Chaudhary said. “Surprisingly, ten (or 38%) of those crashes occurred in 2019. There were no work zone crashes reported to the state for 2021 or 2022 (yet).”

He continued, “There were another 108 work zone crashes that occurred on I-84 investigated by the Connecticut State Police during the same time. Two of the crashes involved school busses. Five of the crashes resulted in serious injuries (the rest were property damage only).”

While Newtown has not seen any recent fatalities from crashes at work zones, the National Safety Council reports that more than 100 road construction workers are killed in work zones each year. Nearly half of the workers are killed from being struck by motor vehicles.

DOT expects the number of construction zone injuries and fatalities to climb even higher in the future, due to “increased speed limits, impatient drivers, and widespread traffic congestion.”

What You Will See

Motorists will often see orange signs with black lettering leading up to a work zone to prepare them for what is expected ahead. The signs may indicate a variety of scenarios, including if there is tree work, only one lane open, or a road closure with detours.

Signs may also show that there is a reduced speed limit in the area due to the work zone.

There can even be temporary barriers put in place to help keep traffic out of work zones. Those barriers can be in the form of orange plastic cones, panels, or drums/barrels with reflective strips.

DOT noted, “In work zones, traffic may be controlled by a person with a sign or flag to tell you which direction to travel, to slow down, or stop.”

The signs, barriers, and people are there to give instructions and guide the public safely through the area.

Police Perspective

Members of the Newtown Police Department, or occasionally a neighboring police force, are typically visible at roadway work zones.

Community Services Sergeant William Chapman explained that when private companies — whether it be for tree trimming, paving, or electrical work — need assistance, they reach out to the police department to hire officers available for “private duty.”

Compensation for officers working outside their normal shifts is not paid by tax dollars, but by individual contractors.

“Any officer that is on time off is available to work those jobs if they want to,” Chapman said.

When a police officer is on-site at a work zone, they are responsible for helping keep everyone involved out of danger.

“Our job is to make sure the person who has hired us to facilitate their work is safe to be able to do that. Also, we need to make sure that the work they are doing is safe for the public to be driving past,” Chapman said. “We’re equally responsible for stopping traffic, so that a construction crew can do what they need to on the roadway, and stopping the construction crew if they are doing something that is making it unsafe for traffic.”

He notes that even when people do not see an officer walking around on-site, it is common for them to be surveying the scene from inside their work vehicle.

In those situations, Chapman said, “The flashing lights are enough of a deterrent for people to slow down and drive carefully.”

Whether an officer is visible or not, drivers must slow down and follow the posted signs.

“If a sign says stop, then stop. If you have an officer telling you to stop … then you should not go until that officer tells you to go,” Chapman said. “Even if you are stopped and you perceive it to be safe for you to go, there might be something else that the officer is addressing, and he or she needs you right where you are so, for example, a tractor trailer can make a wide turn, or a piece of construction equipment can get in or out.”

He continued, “Also, if an officer tells you to go, then go ... It might be where the officer needs you out of the place you are in to make someone else safe.”

Work zones are not the place for people to make their own rules when an officer is telling them to do something else.

The situation is also not conducive to having a lengthy conversation with officers, because the officer must stay alert to the traffic.

If someone has a pressing question for the officer, such as needing assistance due to a road closure, people must be quick and concise when communicating.

“If you say, “Officer, I need help getting somewhere,” we will do our best to help you get where you need to go while having you in a place that is safe for everyone traveling around you,” Chapman said.

Towing Work

In addition to traditional work zones, when tow trucks respond to a call for assistance and must be on the scene, the road becomes an impromptu working area.

Under Connecticut’s updated “Move Over” Law (CGS § 14-283b), tow trucks and any state, municipal (including borough or district), state bridge and parkway authority, or utility company maintenance vehicle used to maintain highways, bridges, and their associated facilities are included along with police, ambulance and fire apparatus.

The law requires a driver traveling on a highway with at least two lanes in each direction, when approaching one or more emergency vehicles that are stationary or travelling significantly below the posted speed limit on the shoulder, lane, or breakdown lane, to immediately slow to a reasonable speed below the posted speed limit and, if driving in an adjacent lane, move over one lane (unless to do so would be unsafe).

Nicholas J. Kopcik has owned NJK Automotive LLC in Newtown for nearly 30 years. The company is a full-service Sunoco gasoline station that offers complete auto repairs with roadside assistance, whether it be towing or flat tire service.

According to Kopcik, “Tow truck drivers are trained to position their truck in such a way that will protect them from traffic. The trucks are designed to be operated from both sides, so the operator can stand away from traffic while loading.”

Even with these precautions, the public needs to remain vigilant to keep everyone in the area safe.

“The best thing a motorist can do when approaching a tow scene is first, slow down and move over to the lane away from the truck,” Kopcik said. “Work zones are especially dangerous because most often the highway lanes are condensed down to make room for the construction workers.”

He emphasized the importance of having drivers not use their phones while driving.

“Even when you’re using a hands-free device, your mind can be on the conversation more than the road ahead of you,” Kopcik explained.

He has personally witnessed the dangers of people being distracted while texting or talking on the phone and driving.

“I can’t tell you how many times we have cars passing me in the truck and they are texting or [sending] e-mails or whatever. Leave the phone down, nothing is that important. If it is, then pull off to a safe spot and take the call/text,” Kopcik said.

Dos and Don’ts

Chaudhary explained, “[Motorists] need to understand that our town workers, DOT workers, the police at these sites, and even private company workers are at risk at work zones and extra care should be taken.”

A popular motto when it comes to work zone etiquette is “Give them a brake.” The slogan is designed to raise awareness about the importance of slowing down and/or stopping when instructed in these areas.

DOT lists that motorists must also increase their following distance from other vehicles, expect delays, merge early when instructed, move to the lane farthest from the workers and equipment when possible, follow the signage, and remain alert until “End Road Work” is posted.

Overall, the public should also use extreme caution when driving through work zones at all times of day, regardless if workers appear to be present or not.

Chaudhary added, “Fines are also increased at work zones, but care for human life should be enough to have motorists drive cautiously and slow down.”

For more information about work zone safety in Connecticut, visit workzonesafety.org/agency/connecticut. Also visit preussergroup.com to learn more.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.