Inside: MDOT officials plead with motorists to slow down, drive safely in work zones »

The state director of transportation is imploring drivers to slow down while traveling through work zones in light of two fatal road-worker deaths and one nonfatal accident this week amid increased road work.

Michigan Department of Transportation officials said in a news release while there may be fewer motorists on the roads due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of road and workzone fatalities are on the rise.

As of September, 730 people have died on Michigan roads. That’s an increase of 58 deaths compared to this time last year. This week, vehicles struck three ontheroad workers, killing two of them.

“We implore you to slow down and drive through work zones as if it was your own workplace,” Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said in the release. “As we begin our Rebuilding Michigan bonding program-aimed at catching up with years of our state’s underinvestment in roads, you can expect a great deal of work on highways across the state.”

Officials added: “Motorists should always slow down, follow all posted signs, be alert, and remain calm when driving through a work zone.

On Monday, Zachery Morisette, a 26-year old Macomb County Department of Roads employee, was struck and killed while replacing a manhole cover on I-94 near 9 Mile Road in Macomb County.

On Wednesday, a RCOC construction project inspector was struck by a motorist while assisting with traffic control as part of a project to resurface 12 Mile Road between Greenfield Road and Coolidge Highway in Berkley. He was taken to a hospital and released with minor injuries.

On Thursday, Jeremy Zeitz, a 40-year- old road worker from Gladwin, was struck and killed while working on Sherwood Highway over Interstate 69 in Eaton County.

“We are deeply saddened by these recent roadworker fatalities. These workers had families and friends who loved and will miss them immensely,” Ajegba said.

The increase in crashes and fatalities comes at a time when the department is reporting a 20-percent decrease in overall statewide traffic volumes due to the ongoing pandemic.

MDOT officials said in the release the department “understands that traveling through work zones can be frustrating” and that “the department is working diligently to reduce the impacts that road work has on motorists while delivering smooth and safe roads.

“MDOT is dedicated to zero deaths on our roads and protecting all workers who build and maintain Michigan’s infrastructure.”