Staying Safe in the Work Zone: THEA Observes National Work Zone Awareness Week

Each April, transportation agencies and road workers across the country unite for National Work Zone Awareness Week, and the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority is proud to be part of the conversation. This week serves as an important reminder that work zone safety is a shared responsibility between the crews building our roads and the drivers sharing the space with them.

Why It Matters

Work zones are among the most dynamic and potentially dangerous environments on the road. Nationally, hundreds of lives are lost in work zone crashes every year, and thousands more are injured. Behind each of those numbers is a worker who showed up to do a job, or a driver who did not slow down in time.

With exciting projects on the horizon across THEA’s system, our crews will have a growing presence in work zones in the months and years ahead. From the South Selmon Capacity Project to ongoing system improvements, our workers are out there before sunrise and long after sunset. They deserve to come home safe at the end of every shift.

What Drivers Can Do

Slow down. Speed limits in work zones are not suggestions, and fines are higher for a reason. Eliminate distractions and put the phone away. A work zone is no place for divided attention. Stay patient, as lane shifts and closures are temporary, and always move over when you see workers or flashing lights on the shoulder. In Florida, it is the law.

Throughout the week, follow along and add your voice on social media using #NWZAW2026 and #WorkZoneSafety. For more information, visit nwzaw.org.