Sometimes barrels or temporary barriers protect crews working on road projects. Other times, it’s just a 12-pound traffic cone between the workers and vehicles speeding by.
“It's a very vulnerable place for our construction workers and our construction staff to be, and so they're really trusting the drivers and the public to have those safe behaviors so that they can go about their job safely,” said Kelly Alvord, a spokesperson with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles estimated more than 4,000 work zone crashes happened in Virginia in 2025. That’s more than the year before, and nearly half of those crashes happened in Hampton Roads.
The region is home to many ongoing road construction projects, including the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project. Every day, more than 2,000 people work on that project alone, Ryan Banas, the project director at VDOT, previously told WHRO.
“We are a small city unto ourself,” he said.
VDOT reported that driving too fast for conditions and driving while distracted cause 85% of work zone crashes. Rear-end collisions are especially common in work zones.
Alvord said drivers should slow down, put away their phones and other distractions, not tailgate and stay alert.
The DMV’s preliminary data estimates the work zone crashes in 2025 resulted in thousands of injuries and 17 deaths. Drivers and passengers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured in these crashes than roadside workers, according to VDOT.
“These driving tips aren't just for us,” Alvord said. “They're for you as well. We really want everyone to stay safe while driving on the roadway and get home to their families.”
