BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation is initiating a program to improve safety in high-risk construction zones, starting with the portion of Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont.

CDOT reported that in 2024, work zone crashes in Colorado resulted in 567 injuries and 31 fatalities, which is nearly double the number of deaths from the previous year.

To reduce the risk, the Department is launching a speed enforcement program that uses camera technology in construction work zones.

“We have workers who are working on our construction zones to improve our roadways to make them safer for motorists. Our workers want to make it home safely to their family, but also drivers who are driving along the corridors want to make it home to their families as well,” said spokesperson Stacia Sellers.

The program uses automated systems in high-risk areas to identify vehicles going an average of 10 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit.

Vehicles will be photographed and timestamped at two points so the system can calculate the average speed by dividing the distance by the travel time.

“The program will eventually be expanded into school zones as well, so there's a lot of vulnerable users on our roadways that this program will help to protect,” said Sellers.

Drivers who put others in danger will receive a $75 civil penalty. The program will include a warning period before enforcement this fall. Warnings and notices will be emailed to drivers within 30 days of the violation.

“This program is really about protecting lives and not punishing motorists, we really want folks to be driving safely along our corridors,” said Sellers.

FOX31 spoke to drivers who say they support any effort to create safer conditions for those working construction.

“Slow down and try to remember that we're all just trying to get where we need to go and just be cautious of everyone around,” said one driver.