The danger of dying in a fatal road work zone accident in Indiana or Illinois, already at an unacceptably high level, is likely to skyrocket with the introduction of extensive state and federal infrastructure road and bridge projects in Illinois and Indiana.
Huge New State Infrastructure Projects in Indiana and Illinois
Huge road construction projects have already begun in our part of the country to address critical needs in our local transportation routes. For instance, the Rebuild Illinois plan is well underway with state funding of $20.7 Billion targeting the reconstruction of over 2279 highway miles and 7,900,000 square feet of bridge decking in Illinois over the next six years.
Meanwhile, in June 2021, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that the State of Indiana will be investing $475 Million in three specific “transformational” roadway projects in the southern part of the state. See, “Holcomb Announces $475M in Infrastructure Projects,” written by Alex Brown and published by Inside Indiana Business on June 11, 2021.
With the passage of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”), billions of dollars in federal funding will be escalating the construction and repair efforts for highways, rural routes, roadways, and bridges in Indiana and Illinois.
White House Fact Sheets: Roads and Bridges of Illinois and Indiana
In August 2021, the White House released factual summaries detailing the current condition of roadways and bridges in each state as part of its push for passage of the IIJA. For more on the legislation itself, read our discussion in Passage of the 2021 Infrastructure Act and Deadly Motor Vehicle Accidents in Indiana and Illinois.
Illinois
According to the White House Fact Sheet for Illinois, there has been a “systemic lack of investment” in Illinois infrastructure “for decades,” resulting in Illinois receiving a “C-“ on the infrastructure report card prepared by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The White House findings for Illinois show:
- 2374 bridges in poor condition; and
- 6218 highway miles in poor condition.
Under the new 2021 Infrastructure Act, the White House estimates:
- Illinois will get $9.8 Billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs through the IIJA;
- Illinois will get another $1.4 Billion for bridge replacement and repairs under the IIJA; and
- For its “economically significant bridges,” Illinois can compete for additional funding from the IIJA’s $12.5 Billion Bridge Investment Program.
Indiana
According to the White House Fact Sheet for Indiana, there has been a “systemic lack of investment” in Indiana infrastructure “for decades.”
The White House findings for Indiana show:
- 1111 bridges in poor condition; and
- 5478 highway miles in poor condition.
Under the new 2021 Infrastructure Act, the White House estimates:
- Indiana will get $6.6 Billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs through the IIJA;
- Indiana will get another $ 401 Million for bridge replacement and repairs under the IIJA;
- For its “economically significant bridges,” Indiana can compete for additional funding from the IIJA’s $12.5 Billion Bridge Investment Program; and
- Indiana can compete for nearly $16 Billion of national funding in the IIJA’s Major Projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to local communities.
Warning: Highest Number of Road Work Zone Deaths in 15 Years
Before all this money evolves from budgets to building expenses, the risk of someone dying in a work zone fatality was reported to be the highest it has been since 2006. According to the Department of Transportation, the latest year of compiled fatality data (2019) reveals the largest percentage increase of highway work zone fatalities since 2006.
Warns Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack:
“We all have a role to play when it comes to safely repairing and improving our nation’s roads, bridges and highways. If you are driving and see construction work ahead – and especially workers on the job – please slow down and drive carefully.”
According to federal studies come the follow sobering statistics (2019 data):
- Approximately four (4) out of every five (5) work zone accident deaths involves a driver or passenger of a motor vehicle;
- On average, two (2) or more people die each day in a work zone accident;
- A work zone traffic accident happened every five (5) minutes during the year 2019 in this country.
Who are the Victims of These Deadly Work Zone Accidents?
While some may assume that construction workers face the danger of death in a road work zone accident, work zone accident victims can also include drivers of one or more of the motor vehicles involved in the work zone crash, their occupants or passengers, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians at the incident site.
The National Safety Council (NSC) maintains an online map of work zone deaths categorized both by the state location as well as the status of the accident victim. According to the NSC, road work zone deaths not only happen in the construction zone itself, but also in nearby areas including utility work zones and road maintenance zones.
Illinois
NSC reports that in 2019, Illinois saw 30 people die in road work zone accidents. Of these work zone victims:
- 15 died in truck-related crashes;
- 2 perished as pedestrians; and
- 8 died as workers in the work zone.
Indiana
NSC reports that in 2019, Indiana saw 32 people die in road work zone accidents. Of these work zone victims:
- 16 died in truck-related crashes;
- 3 perished as pedestrians; and
- 3 died as workers in the work zone.
Justice for Work Zone Accident Victims in Indiana and Illinois
Research warns us that road work zones are extremely dangerous for absolutely anyone who comes near the zone site. We already have too many victims of road work zone crashes in this country, and with the increasing state funding projects underway in Indiana and Illinois, the concern of an even higher fatality rate is very real to both safety agencies and advocates for work zone accident victims and their loved ones.
With the passage of the IIJA and its billions of dollars in federal infrastructure funding, the risk of a serious or fatal work zone accident rises exponentially in both Indiana and Illinois.
Not only pedestrians and those riding bikes, but motorcyclists and road workers are facing a great risk of harm as these infrastructure projects progress to completion over the next few years.
Motor vehicle drivers and their passengers, as well as truckers, also face a shockingly high risk of a fatal road work zone crash in our local area.
The state laws of Indiana and Illinois do provide avenues for justice for work zone accident victims. Worker’s compensation and wrongful death statutes as well as the laws of negligence and product liability may provide legal redress for both the injury victim as well as family members.
For more, read:
- Pew Trust Warns Roadway Work Zone Fatalities Rise in 2020 for Workers, Drivers, and Passengers of Motor Vehicles: “It’s Crazy”
- Work Zone Accidents in Indiana and Illinois & Risk of Serious or Deadly Roadside Crashes In Work Sites
- Work Zones in Illinois and Indiana: Fatal Accidents, Serious Injuries
- Illinois I-55 Semi Truck Crash: Truck Driver Risks and Construction Zone Dangers.
Any approach to a road work zone must be taken with extreme caution. Workers on these infrastructure projects must be alert to the risks they face on the job. Today’s sad reality is that road work zones are the sites of too many fatalities in Indiana and Illinois. Please be careful out there!
