AAA expert offers safety tips for Z-Way work zone drivers

DANIELS, WV (WVNS) — Emergency officials in Raleigh County said construction of the Z-Way along U.S. Route 19 between Airport Road in Beaver and Hinton Road in Shady Spring will result in narrow roads and two-lane traffic and could result in longer emergency response times .

These same factors contribute to a higher number of fatalities on rural roads in West Virginia, according to a 2022 study by the nonprofit TRIP.

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Semi-trailer tractors also use the route. Some drivers said this presented an additional challenge in the narrower lanes.

Although traffic along the route is constantly backed up and drivers are frustrated, Lori Weaver Hawkins, a spokeswoman for AAA, said Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, that it is important to be vigilant and alert in a construction zone.

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“Reduce your speed, but don’t get distracted either,” she advised. “Pay attention to the road. Stay in your lane and watch for things like sidewalk issues in the future.”

She said it’s important to wear a seat belt in the work area and drive slowly enough to accommodate road conditions.

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