Work‑zone awareness week

States are using National Work Zone Awareness Week to push drivers to slow down as spring construction expands across U.S. roads. (dot.gov) The Federal Highway Administration says the 2026 campaign runs from April 20 to April 24 and carries the theme “Safe actions save lives.” Its fact sheet says work zones bring risks from high-speed traffic, poor visibility, heavy equipment and tight work spaces. (dot.gov) Virginia tied the national campaign to a statewide “Go Orange Day” on Wednesday, April 22. The Virginia Department of Transportation asked residents to wear orange, post with #GoOrangeDayVA and join a memorial at the VDOT Workers Memorial on Afton Mountain. (virginiadot.org) Virginia also scheduled a statewide moment of silence for 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24, for workers killed in service to the Commonwealth. In a separate April 20 release, VDOT said the week is meant to keep attention on safe driving habits in work zones year-round. (virginiadot.org, virginiadot.org) North Carolina is pairing the awareness push with repeated warnings about driver behavior in active work areas. The North Carolina Department of Transportation said on April 17 that slowing down, staying focused and following posted signs can prevent crashes when crews are working feet from traffic. (ncdot.gov) NCDOT’s work-zone safety page puts numbers behind that message: North Carolina recorded 6,870 work-zone crashes, 1,570 injuries and 47 deaths in 2024. The agency says those zones include not only major interstate projects but also mowing, drainage work, utility easements and roadside maintenance. (ncdot.gov) The federal campaign follows a set calendar that turns awareness into public rituals. The Federal Highway Administration’s 2026 outreach page lists Work Zone Safety Training Day on April 20, National kickoff events on April 21, Go Orange Day on April 22, social media outreach on April 23 and a moment of silence on April 24. (dot.gov) Transportation agencies are leaning on that calendar as roadwork accelerates with warmer weather and infrastructure spending. The Federal Highway Administration says the spring campaign is timed to draw attention to worker safety and traffic movement just as construction season ramps up. (dot.gov) The week ends with the same ask it started with: treat a work zone like a workplace, not a delay. State and federal agencies are using orange shirts, memorials and crash statistics to make that point before the busiest paving months arrive. (virginiadot.org, dot.gov)