Chances are that over the years everyone has heard some version of the old wise crack that goes like this: In Iowa, we have two seasons — winter and road construction.

Here in Fort Dodge, that road construction season is ramping up. In fact, the westbound side of the Kenyon Road Bridge has been closed since last fall. A fresh crop of road cones has just sprouted on Fifth Avenue South and it surely won’t be the last one drivers will see. Local governments have been awarding contracts for a lot of work.

For those who are snaking their vehicle through a maze of orange road cones and barricades, it may not seem like a good thing at that moment. But in fact, all the hassle means that projects, some of which are long overdue, are getting done to make future trips easier and better.

The unkind reality is that the only time any significant work can get done on city streets, highways and bridges is during the spring and summer months when everyone wants to be on the road.

In the midst of all these projects and detours, we have to keep one group of people in mind – the folks who are out there doing all the road work. The rest of us need to give them a brake. And yes, we mean brake, as in brake pedal.

Imagine yourself working with heavy machinery or doing hard physical labor all while vehicles are going past just feet away at what must seem like incredibly high speeds even when they are going the speed limit. They deserve to have a safe work environment, so slow down the next time you see them.

And if basic compassion for our road workers isn’t enough to get you to slow down, consider this: typically, fines for speeding are doubled in work zones. We’re betting that law enforcement officers will not hesitate to throw the book at anyone they catch zooming through a work zone.

We should all respect and protect the people working on our roads, highways and bridges.