Traffic delays are frustrating. No one wants to be stuck in a traffic jam if they can avoid it. Sometimes, slowdowns are the result of heavy traffic levels or collisions ahead on the highway. People usually can’t avoid unpredictable slowdowns.
Other times, traffic jams are the result of road work. Construction projects intended to repave damaged sections of road, improve busy intersections or repair crumbling infrastructure can take months to complete. In some cases, sections of the road may close completely. Other times, construction may force drivers to filter down to a single lane of traffic on a busy thoroughfare.
In either situation, frustrating delays are likely. Drivers aggravated by slowdowns or distracted by construction crews could also potentially cause preventable collisions. Many motorists can avoid frustrating commutes and reduce their traffic collision risk by planning routes that bypass major road improvement projects.
How can drivers verify where there are active road projects?
The state provides detailed information
Local news channels and radio stations sometimes provide information about traffic conditions, including planned projects that might affect the busiest streets. However, they are unlikely to provide complete lists on a daily basis, leaving motorists with incomplete information about road conditions.
Given that the public funds efforts to install and maintain road infrastructure, disclosure about major projects is of the utmost importance. Typically, the state announces major projects long before they begin. Drivers can potentially access information about current, past and future road improvement projects online.
Drivers in Brooklyn can check a list of current and upcoming road projects provided by the New York Department of Transportation here. There is also a broader search feature available on this web page that can help people identify projects elsewhere when driving anywhere in New York state.
Drivers in Brooklyn can easily avoid local construction if they routinely check for new and future projects. Those traveling elsewhere in the state may need to look for projects underway or in the works before they choose a specific route.
Avoiding construction on the road can help decrease the likelihood of a preventable motor vehicle collision. If a crash does occur, those people affected may need to look into who is at fault and what forms of compensation they may have available, and that’s okay.