Spring’s arrival brings with it the familiar sounds of road repair, construction and landscaping projects. Winter weather typically takes a toll, causing damage ranging from potholes on paved roads and in parking lots to downed trees, salt-damaged grass and crumbling cement security barriers. If your business, agency or municipality has repair, replacement or new construction work on the schedule for spring, Traffic Safety Direct has the products you need to complete your projects efficiently and economically.

Repairing and maintaining the infrastructure that supports our mobility and comfort is a year-round job, and springtime is a powerful reminder of just how big a job this is. Even a mild winter can take a toll on everything from paved surfaces to power lines.

The return of warmer weather brings with it a proliferation of road building and repair projects, with construction crews and equipment visible along the country’s local streets and highways.

As the number of workers on roads and highways increases, the risk of crashes and fatalities also increases. The risks apply equally to drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians. It’s no surprise that a host of organizations, including the Federal Highway Administration, state Departments of Transportation and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, sponsor National Work Zone Awareness Week in early April each year.

Spring is the season for repair and recovery when it comes to America’s roadways. Warmer temperatures and longer days are a welcome relief, but the harsh winter weather often takes a heavy toll on paved roads and parking lots.

Cracks and potholes caused by the freeze/thaw cycle seem to appear overnight. Plowing and salting can worsen the condition of already deteriorated roads, and street flooding from melting snow and spring rainstorms can further stress roads. The resulting damage is more than a mere annoyance for motorists, who spend on average an extra $523 annually to repair blown tires, broken axles and battered shock absorbers, according to the national transportation research firm TRIP.

If left untreated, pavement cracks and potholes are likely to increase in size and cause additional damage. Patching should be done as soon as possible to prevent further problems and to allow roads, parking areas and driveways to be used safely.

Practically any do-it-yourselfer can repair a pothole using cold patch asphalt repair. The process is as simple as pouring the already-mixed material out of the bag and tamping it in the crack or pothole. Repairs require minimal work and are far less time-consuming and costly than hot mix asphalt patching.

Winter does not officially arrive until December 21, but harsh weather is already wreaking havoc on paved roads and in parking lots. Cracks and potholes caused by the annual freeze-and-thaw cycle have begun to appear, and plowing and salting will worsen the condition of already deteriorated roads as the season gets into full swing.

The resulting damage is more than just an annoyance. According to the national transportation research firm TRIP, poorly maintained roads cost motorists an average of $523 each year to repair blown tires, broken axles and battered shock absorbers.

Traffic cones are easily recognized as a common safety device worldwide. These brightly colored cones can be found almost anywhere, from construction zones and busy streets to shopping mall parking lots and athletic fields. They can even be seen indoors, along stairways and corridors where extra caution is called for.

Highly visible, durable, and portable, traffic and safety cones provide an immediate warning of potential danger. While cones are most commonly used as a traffic control device, they have become a multi-purpose safety tool that is useful in countless situations.

Orange traffic cones are a familiar sight on highways and city streets across the country. While it’s impossible to know the exact number, by some estimates there are roughly 140 million traffic cones in use worldwide.

They divide lanes in construction zones, provide direction around short-duration road maintenance and utility work, and warn drivers of unseen hazards such as potholes and raised manhole covers. They are also seen in parking lots, on athletic fields, and even indoors in areas where extra caution is needed.

Traffic cones are designed to be highly visible and easily movable. They come in various sizes and many different colors, with orange, yellow, and red being the most popular choices due to their brightness. Some versions can be topped with signs or connected with bars or chains.

Traffic signs are a vital element of the massive transportation network that crisscrosses the country. Whether posted on highways or back roads, in suburban neighborhoods or city streets, these signs communicate rules, warnings, directions and other information that is essential for drivers and pedestrians.

Ensuring that these signs are well maintained is a major safety concern, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issues detailed guidelines for the local maintenance of signs and sign supports. In the wake of damage caused by winter weather and snowplowing operations, maintenance crews will be making it a priority to repair and replace signs now that spring has arrived.

Spring is the season for repair and recovery when it comes to America’s roadways. Warmer temperatures and longer days are a welcome relief, but the harsh winter weather often takes a heavy toll on paved roads and parking lots.

Cracks and potholes caused by the freeze/thaw cycle seem to appear over night. Plowing and salting can worsen the condition of already deteriorated roads, and street flooding from melting snow and spring rainstorms can further stress roads.

Without regular maintenance to keep pavement, shoulders and drainage facilities in good condition, roadways can rapidly fall into disrepair.