FRANKFORT, Ky. – In response to a sharp rise in roadway crashes, Kentucky has begun installing automated speed enforcement cameras in active highway work zones, state officials announced Aug. 12. The initiative, launched by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, is designed to reduce accidents and protect both motorists and construction workers.
In 2024 alone, Kentucky recorded 1,223 work zone crashes, resulting in seven deaths and nearly 300 injuries. Most of those killed were motorists or passengers, underscoring the dangers for both drivers and crews.
“Speeding through work zones isn’t just reckless, it can be deadly,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “In Kentucky, we believe that protecting our people is always the right thing to do, and now we have a new tool to help make that happen.”
The first cameras will be installed this summer and fall across four work zones, with plans to expand the program statewide in the coming years. Warning signs and flashing lights will alert drivers as they approach monitored areas. Unlike automated ticketing programs in other states, Kentucky’s system will still involve police officers stationed at the end of a zone to pull over violators and issue citations based on camera data. Fines can reach up to $500 when workers are present.
Chad LaRue, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors, emphasized that the program is as much about prevention as it is about enforcement. “This is about creating safer conditions so that workers can focus on building and repairing roads without worrying if the next speeding car will cause another tragedy,” LaRue said at the announcement event.
The move comes as Kentucky continues to ramp up infrastructure investment, with over $1 billion in contracts awarded last year for paving, bridges, and new road construction. With another billion-dollar program expected in 2025, work zone safety has become an urgent priority.
Industry groups say stronger enforcement is long overdue. A national survey from the Associated General Contractors of America found that three in five contractors experienced at least one work zone vehicle crash in the past year, and nearly one-third reported five or more crashes. While about 40% of respondents felt penalties were strict enough, many believed enforcement lagged behind.
Kentucky joins a growing list of states—including Washington and New York—that have adopted similar measures. Washington has begun using trailer-mounted cameras in work zones, while New York extended and expanded its pilot program through 2031.
By combining technology with on-site enforcement, Kentucky officials say they hope to send a clear message: speeding in work zones won’t be tolerated.
Originally reported by Zachary Phillips in Construction Dive.
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