Maintaining road safety and ensuring the well-being of workers is a continuous challenge for transportation agencies. In Burnet, Texas, Kevin Lenox, a maintenance supervisor with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), describes the unpredictable nature of his team’s work.
“From day to day the maintenance office is just a roller coaster, sometimes,” Lenox said. “You might have a plan and there might be a wreck out there(and) we have to shut down what we’re doing, and go out there and help out law enforcement.”
Lenox and his crew must be prepared for unexpected incidents, ranging from traffic accidents to emergencies such as plane crashes on highways. “I’ve actually even had a plane crash on a US highway, a couple of years ago, so you never know what might occur,” he said.
His background as a Marine has helped him handle stressful situations. “Once that hits and the stress kind of settles in, there’s things going on everywhere and that’s where your leadership comes into play,” he said.
To maintain readiness, Lenox dedicates significant time to analyzing data, planning operations, and conducting training sessions. He emphasizes that even small mistakes can lead to serious consequences. He recalled an incident where a traffic cone was blown off an 18-wheeler and struck a worker’s hard hat. “I don’t think a lot of people realize how much those cones weigh,” he said. “If one hits you, it’s probably going to — at the very least — knock you unconscious.”
Safety remains Lenox’s top priority. He works to build teamwork among his staff and stresses vigilance from the start of each shift. “As a supervisor, my biggest fear is that I don’t want to have those major horrific injuries or even a fatality. It’s not something that I ever want to experience” Lenox said. “We are really the first line of defense for each other. That’s what keeps us coming home every day.”
Lenox encourages drivers to protect road crews by moving over or slowing down by 20 mph when passing vehicles with flashing lights at the roadside.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) continues its efforts in supporting infrastructure safety nationwide through various programs. For example, new guidance and $7.3 billion in formula funding were recently announced by USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states respond better to extreme weather events such as wildfires and flooding (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-new-protect-formula-program-73-billion-bipartisan).
Additionally, USDOT has promoted innovation in transportation accessibility through initiatives like the Inclusive Design Challenge which awarded $5 million in prizes for designs that improve mobility options for people with disabilities (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/anniversary-ada-usdot-announces-winners-its-first-ever-inclusive-design-challenge).
These efforts highlight ongoing federal support for both roadway safety and worker protection across the country.
