Construction zones can be responsible for turning your 15-minute commute into 30 minutes. Whether that drive is on the highway or residential road, your route is affected. This leaves drivers navigating slow-moving traffic that can quickly come to a standstill.
While driving through construction zones can be inconvenient, it can also be dangerous. The presence of lane closures, lower speed traffic flows, no road shoulders, and potential of people and construction equipment in the road require heightened attention from drivers. While you may be driving safely through the area, the actions of other drivers are out of your control.
What Makes Driving in St. Louis Construction Zones Dangerous?
Although the goal of construction projects is to improve traffic patterns and safety on the roads, the construction itself increases the risk of accidents in these areas. Construction zones pose new road layouts and can catch drivers off guard. Alongside these new layouts, lanes may be closed. The constant changes can force drivers to merge quickly, sometimes having to swerve.
The reduced speed limits in work zones can result in wrecks at the beginning of the new traffic patterns. Drivers who are traveling at highway speeds are forced to slow down to 15 to 20 mph in a short distance. For semi-truck drivers, this change in traffic flow requires their complete attention. Their vehicles must slow down much sooner as they need more distance to slow down due to the vehicles’ size and weight. If the driver is not paying close attention, this can lead to devasting accidents.
Major Construction Projects Happening in St. Louis
Missouri has introduced various initiatives to improve the conditions of interstates and highways across the state. In St. Louis, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has started the initiative Improve 70.
The goal of the project is to update I-70’s infrastructure to support Missouri’s growing economy. MoDOT said the current structure of the highway is strained and outdated; it hasn’t been able to keep up with the state’s growing economy and the extra traffic that brings. The project began in May 2025, and completion is projected to be the end of 2030. For St. Louis residents residing in areas from Warrenton to Wentzville, this means experiencing construction delays for almost six years.
MoDOT has also begun upgrading Interstate 55 to address traffic and safety concerns from the public. One portion of the project affects residents in Jefferson County, while another portion of the project focuses on rehabilitating the St. Louis bridge. Both aspects of the project are still underway.
These plans affect residents across the St. Louis area and have impacted various interstates, highways, and roads. Drivers with routes that are impacted may be subjected to driving through heavy construction, longer drive times, and potential accidents.
Avoiding Areas Associated with Construction Zone Wrecks
Construction zones and major projects such as Improve 70 are everywhere and affect all kinds of roadways. In a perfect world, you’d be able to avoid construction zones completely. Realistically, what you can do is optimize your route. This can help you to avoid heavy construction and potentially heavy traffic but can also lead to increased travel times. Even so, this inconvenience could potentially prevent accidents.
If you feel comfortable driving through heavy construction and/or cannot avoid it on your daily routes, tools like the Semi Crash Map allow you to see how many semi crashes have occurred along your specific roadways. Each pinned accident provides information about the results of the accident, giving you the chance to plan your drive with the most information possible.
When you plan your drive with a GPS, pairing it with the Semi Crash Map allows you to look at past accidents to help gauge the conditions in work zones. If you determine the route is too dangerous, you can adjust your route accordingly.
Injured After a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Is Ready to Help
Craig, Kelley & Faultless is a personal injury law firm handling semi and other truck accident cases in St. Louis, Missouri, and throughout the nation. The firm has lawyers licensed in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. These experienced lawyers have dedicated their careers to helping victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionist and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired.
Our Missouri attorney Christopher M. Barry was included in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, reflecting his professional reputation and results. He is a member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), the premier truck personal injury lawyer’s group. Chris believes that the civil justice system, particularly the right to a jury trial, plays a critical role in holding negligent parties accountable. He represents injured individuals exclusively and is committed to helping clients navigate difficult circumstances with clear guidance, responsiveness, and strong advocacy. He is also licensed in Illinois and Indiana.
The Craig, Kelley & Faultless St. Louis office is located at 5585 Pershing Ave Suite 110, St. Louis, MO 63112, available by appointment only. Reach out for a free case consultation at (314) 367-2661or visit https://www.ckflaw.com/st-louis/.
David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless sit on the Board of Regents of the ATAA, which requires Board Certification in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. David is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc. David is licensed to practice law in Indiana and has been admitted to handle trucking cases pro hac vice in many states, including Missouri.
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