The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation received the 2025 Grand Conceptor Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania for their ongoing efforts to support work zone safety.

The PA Turnpike and PennDOT share this recognition with RK&K, who serves as the program administrator for this project.

The Grand Conceptor Award is the ACEC/PA’s highest honor and was presented Jan. 23 during the organization’s Diamond Awards for Engineering Excellence in Lancaster.

The event recognized projects across the Commonwealth that exemplified superior safety, innovation and engineering quality.

“Worker and motorist safety remains the top priority at the Pennsylvania Turnpike,” said PA Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey.

“We are honored to be recognized with our partners for the Work Zone Speed Camera Safety program, a collaborative effort that is critical to changing driver behavior and improving roadway safety.”

In March, the PA Turnpike, PennDOT and PSP launched the statewide Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program. Previously referred to as Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement, the initial five-year pilot program became permanent when Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1284 into law on Dec. 14, 2023.

“PennDOT is pleased to be recognized alongside our partners for the Work Zone Speed Safety Program,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “This program isn’t about issuing violations, it’s about saving lives. And this recognition exemplifies PennDOT’s commitment to safety on our roadways for both workers and motorists.”

Pennsylvania’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program uses vehicle-mounted, electronic speed timing devices to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more. Camera systems are only operational in active work zones where workers are present. Registered owners receive warning letters for the first offense, a violation notice with a $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice with a $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. The violations are civil penalties with no points assessed to driver’s licenses.

Cameras are located throughout the Times News area.

During the five-year pilot program, participating work zones saw a 38% reduction in speeding (1 mph or more over the speed limit) and a 47% reduction in excessive speeding (11 mph or more over the speed limit.) Work zone crashes declined by up to 50% when a speed enforcement vehicle was present.

Reducing crashes within work zones and protecting highway workers from the traveling public is top priority for the PA Turnpike. As part of this commitment, the PA Turnpike has a dedicated task force that focuses on construction zones, crash analysis and near-real-time adjustments to working conditions.

Stemming from this task force, the PA Turnpike and PennDOT joined forces again this fall, developing a New Driver Work Zone Safety Program. The free, 35-minute virtual training program teaches new drivers how to navigate work zones with confidence and safety.

A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles.

The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24/7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop.

The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce.