Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Work Zone Safety

Construction work zone safety tips

Summer driving safety (Youtube)
Zipper merge (Youtube)

Slow down and drive with caution

Drivers traveling too fast and not paying attention are the main causes of work zone crashes. Follow these safe driving tips:

  • Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
  • Drive undistracted. Avoid using phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio – even eating – while in work zones.
  • Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.
  • Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at 511mn.org or download the free 511mn app at Google Play or the App Store.
  • Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Do the zipper merge.
  • Avoid making unnecessary lane changes.
  • Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
  • Expect work zones to constantly change. Day to day you could experience lane shifts, closures, narrower lanes, moving workers and vehicles.

Things you might encounter on the road

Pilot cars

Pavement buckles

Resources