Keeping roads safe and in good condition is a daily challenge for transportation maintenance teams. In Burnet, Texas, Kevin Lenox, a supervisor with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), leads his crew through unpredictable situations.
“From day to day the maintenance office is just a roller coaster, sometimes,” Lenox said. “You might have a plan and there might be a wreck out there(and) we have to shut down what we’re doing, and go out there and help out law enforcement.”
Lenox’s team must handle emergencies ranging from car accidents to unusual events. “I’ve actually even had a plane crash on a US highway, a couple of years ago, so you never know what might occur,” he said.
Lenox credits his background as a Marine for preparing him to lead under pressure. “Once that hits and the stress kind of settles in, there’s things going on everywhere and that’s where your leadership comes into play,” he said.
To maintain safety standards, Lenox spends significant time analyzing data, planning operations, and conducting training sessions. He highlighted how small errors can have serious consequences for workers’ safety. For example, he recalled an incident where “a traffic cone fly from a moving 18-wheeler and strike a worker directly on the hard hat.”
“I don’t think a lot of people realize how much those cones weigh,” he said. “If one hits you, it’s probably going to — at the very least — knock you unconscious.”
Each day begins with reminders about teamwork and safety protocols. “As a supervisor, my biggest fear is that I don’t want to have those major horrific injuries or even a fatality. It’s not something that I ever want to experience” Lenox said. “We are really the first line of defense for each other. That’s what keeps us coming home every day.”
The public can also help keep road crews safe by slowing down or moving over when they see flashing lights or work vehicles stopped along highways.
Meanwhile, federal efforts are underway to support infrastructure resilience nationwide. The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued new guidance and provided $7.3 billion in formula funding through its Federal Highway Administration to assist states in preparing for extreme weather events such as wildfires or flooding under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-new-protect-formula-program-73-billion-bipartisan).
Additionally, collaboration between DOT leaders like Secretary Pete Buttigieg and supply chain partners aims to improve logistics through initiatives such as FLOW (Freight Logistics Optimization Works), which encourages data sharing across participants in order to strengthen goods movement throughout the country (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-supply-chain-companies-collaborate-speed-movement-goods-cut-costs-consumers).
These combined efforts at local and national levels reflect ongoing commitments to both road maintenance and worker safety.
