ADA COUNTY — The Ada County Highway District and its contracted traffic control partners are calling on members of the public to respect and protect those working in roadwork zones.
Over the past few months, several workers have been subjected to violence in work zones across the Treasure Valley.
In one instance, a driver struck a flagger with her vehicle while the flagger was directing traffic at ACHD’s chip seal operations. During the 2025 chip seal season, law enforcement has been called seven times due to aggressive behavior and unlawful actions.
“We’ve seen firsthand the toll these incidents take on our team, who are simply doing their jobs,” said Melissa Carlile, flagging supervisor at Specialty Construction Supply. “Every driver needs to remember that there’s a human being holding the signs directing traffic, and their life depends on your attention and patience.”
Beyond these incidents, flaggers and other work zone employees are reporting an increase in instances of aggressive behavior. Crews are regularly met with drivers yelling profanities, making inappropriate gestures, and driving aggressively through work zones. These actions not only create an unsafe work environment for crews, but also pose serious risks to the safety of other roadway users.
“Our job is to provide safe and effective traffic control through and around work zones while protecting the general public, workers, and emergency response personnel if needed,” said Timothy McCloud, superintendent and training specialist at Bighorn Traffic Services, LLC. “We would like to ask every driver to remember that there’s somebody’s mother, father, or neighbor directing traffic, and their life depends on your attention and patience.”
Even when workers aren’t present, driving through a closed work zone is dangerous. Recently, a driver intentionally drove through a closed chip seal zone on Linder Road. The vehicle caused enough damage to delay the project and prolong lane closures, costing additional taxpayer money.
“When drivers go around barricades, they put themselves, crews, and other roadway users in immediate danger,” said ACHD Director Ryan Head. “Bypassing a closure isn’t just illegal, it can also cause more damage and delays for everyone.”
ACHD understands the frustration of coming across roadwork, especially when it adds time to residents’ commutes. The District works diligently to reduce those disruptions where possible, but the maintenance and preservation of roadways is a critical and ongoing necessity. Every project, from resurfacing to chip sealing, is designed to extend the life of our roads and enhance safety for the traveling public.
To help residents plan ahead and avoid unnecessary delays, ACHD provides regular updates about upcoming roadwork. The Roadwork in the Area (RITA) map is an online tool that outlines current and planned construction locations across Ada County. In addition, ACHD distributes weekly updates during chip seal season to show where crews are expected to be working. Information is also shared through ACHD’s social media platforms, including emergency notifications and last-minute updates.
"The men and women working in construction zones are your neighbors, friends, and family members,” said Director Head. “They drop kids off at the same schools, shop in the same grocery stores, sit in the same pews at church, and take the same detours to get to work. They have parents, spouses, children, and pets who need them home each night. We urge drivers to slow down, follow directions, and treat crews with respect.”
