Whatcom County Public Works is joining road agencies across the country this week to observe National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual campaign timed to coincide with the start of road construction season. The message is straightforward: slow down, put the phone away, and drive like the person in the orange vest could be someone you know.
The campaign, organized nationally by the Federal Highway Administration, runs each spring to elevate attention to work zone safety before crews fan out across county and state roads for the warmer months. In Whatcom County, the Public Works department manages hundreds of miles of county roads, many of which see active maintenance and improvement projects from spring through fall.
This year's theme is "Safe Actions Save Lives." County Public Works highlighted three specific behaviors drivers should adopt when approaching any work zone: slow down and stay alert, eliminate distractions including cell phones, and move over and slow down for emergency and roadside vehicles. These behaviors are not just courtesy items. Failing to slow down in a posted work zone carries enhanced fines under Washington State law, and distracted driving near active work zones has been a leading factor in worker fatalities nationally.
Whatcom County has seen significant road activity in recent years. Projects along Guide Meridian, Hannegan Road, and various rural county roads have placed crews in close proximity to traffic for extended periods. The timing of this week's campaign is particularly meaningful given Tuesday's crash on northbound I-5 near Lake Samish that injured a bicyclist and required the closure of multiple lanes during active emergency response -- a reminder of how quickly roadway situations can become dangerous.
Whatcom County urges all drivers to treat every orange cone, construction sign, and flagging operation as a cue to drop their speed and increase following distance. First responders and roadside workers depend on that simple action to come home safely at the end of their shift.
The Washington State Department of Transportation also operates a work zone information portal where drivers can look up active projects on state highways in the Bellingham area and beyond. National Work Zone Awareness Week runs through April 25, 2026.
For Whatcom County residents who work in construction, transportation, or emergency services, this week is also a moment of recognition. The county's road crews work year-round in often difficult conditions, from the wet winters that saturate county roads to the summer heat that brings high traffic volumes from tourists heading to the San Juans, Mount Baker, and the Canadian border.
For more information on active county road projects or to report a road hazard, contact Whatcom County Public Works directly or visit the county's online road services portal.
