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The fair weather season is here and that means there is a lot more traffic on the roads. Residents are getting out of the house and motoring around the county running errands and visiting people. Tourists are starting to arrive and business transportation is picking up.

Of course, the other thing that appears on the road this time of year is the occasional construction zone. Sometimes work areas can be an inconvenience to motorists (we all want to get where we are going quickly), but road repairs benefit motorists and taxpayers in the long run. Without road repairs the roads deteriorate and the result is decreased highway safety, more wear and tear on your car, and more expensive maintenance and repair projects on the highway.

Maintaining safe highway conditions for residential and commercial traffic is an essential responsibility of government. The Oswego County Department of Public Works Highway Division will resurface or repair approximately 27 miles of county highway this summer. Other work includes roadside mowing, repairs of signs and guardrails, and bridge repairs.

This summer, you may encounter work zones on portions of County Routes 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22, 28, 38, 55, 57, and 62.

The safety of motorists, their passengers, and the work crews on the road are of primary importance in work zones. Please slow down as you approach a work zone. Drivers often encounter unexpected lane changes, reduced speeds, detours, rough roads, delays and single lanes in work zones. Please watch out for heavy road equipment, traffic control cones and signs, and especially for highway workers. County highway crews wear orange vests and hard hats to make them easily visible.

Please keep yourself and highway workers safe by slowing down and driving carefully. Here are five simple rules for safe driving in construction zones:

1. Obey posted speed limits. (Traffic violations in work zones carry heavy fines.)
2. Follow instructions from flaggers.
3. Do not tailgate.
4. Be alert for lane shifts and lane closures.
5. Expect the unexpected.

As a police officer, I've seen many vehicle accidents - some worse than others. The sad thing about every accident is that each one could have been prevented if those involved had been more safety conscious. Work zones are areas where drivers and work crews need to put safety first.

Get out and enjoy the weather, and have a safe summer on the roads this year!

For more information on county highway projects, contact the Oswego County Department of Public Works, weekdays, phone 349-8331 or 1-800-596-3200, ext. 8331.