The calendar tells us that spring has arrived, and that also means the start of another season: road construction season.

In Fort Dodge, we have already seen some of that as crews have been doing permanent repairs to various streets that had to be dug up to fix broken water mains. One of the year’s big projects, the reconstruction of Third Avenue Northwest, is getting started. In the coming days and weeks, more projects will begin on city, county and state roads. Barricades and orange barrels will be a common sight once more.

All this work will yield smooth roads that will help everyone get where they are going safely and efficiently.

No one likes having to slow down and seemingly crawl through work zones. Drivers should slow down – and must slow down – to protect the workers who are making it possible for us to have nice roads.

Road construction is tough work to begin with, and it’s tougher when traffic is going by at high speeds just feet or even inches away.

Remember that all those workers out there are somebody’s son, somebody’s daughter. They are our friends, neighbors and relatives who deserve our respect. Give them that respect by slowing down. And while you’re at it, put the phone down.

If basic respect and compassion aren’t enough to get your foot off the accelerator, think of the penalties for speeding in a work zone. Fines are doubled. Law enforcement officers will have absolutely no hesitation when it comes to issuing tickets with hefty fines to anyone they catch zooming through a work zone.

If everyone slows down, puts away their electronic gizmos and concentrates on the road, road workers and drivers alike will have a safe construction season.