(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Middletown, PA) The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has launched its 11th annual “Go Orange” campaign, urging drivers to prioritize safety in work zones during construction season from May through October.

The campaign focuses on protecting highway workers and motorists through public awareness efforts and safety initiatives across the turnpike system.

According to the commission, there were 179 crashes in Pennsylvania Turnpike work zones in 2025, including one fatality.

Officials marked the start of the campaign by displaying the Lost Worker Memorial outside the commission’s Middletown headquarters. The memorial features orange traffic cones topped with hard hats and plaques honoring employees who died in the line of duty.

Drivers are being reminded to obey posted work zone speed limits, avoid distractions, move over for emergency scenes when possible and pay attention to changing traffic patterns.

The commission also highlighted several safety programs, including Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras operated in partnership with PennDOT and Pennsylvania State Police. Officials said speeding in enforced work zones dropped to 15.8% of traffic during the 2025 construction season.