Sep 4, 2024 By Jon Andreassi 5 min read

In the summertime drivers can always expect to come across more work zones on the road, and there is a pivotal role on those crews that ensure cars make it through in a safe and orderly fashion – the flagger.

The flaggers stand on either end of a work zone with signs instructing drivers to either stop, or to proceed slowly through the construction. Robert Ballentyne, an assistant highway maintenance manager for PennDOT Engineering District 12 in Washington County, began his career at the agency as a flagger more than 20 years ago.

“Not only did I do the flagging as an operator, but also trained them as well. Then when I became a foreman I assisted on the larger crews with the flagging detail. So as far as wearing chaps and flagging gear, literally I just took that stuff off like two years ago,” Ballentyne said.

PennDOT employs its own stable of workers for road crews. When it comes to who does what job at construction sites, Ballentyne says that seniority rules.

“You do a lot of flagging when you first start out,” Ballentyne said.

Ballentyne’s experience starting out as a flagger and working toward his current position is not uncommon at PennDOT. In Fayette County, Rich Martin also works as an assistant highway manager and has been with PennDOT for 25 years.

Like Ballentyne, Martin also started on the bottom rung of the road crews.

“It was a unique experience, because I had never done it before I got to the department,” Martin said. “There is a lot to it. You have to keep your head on a swivel, making sure (drivers) are listening to your commands. It’s definitely a very, very dangerous job.”

Though flagging is a job that inevitably falls to the newbies, that does not mean the job is less important. In fact, flaggers are crucial to the operation.

“You can’t do anything without a flagger. You are not doing anything. So it is an absolute necessity to have a flagger on the job. Absolute necessity. If you don’t have them, who else is going to protect your crew and your guys that are out there working?” Ballentyne said.

Of course, the job requires standing for hours on end. Depending on the type of operation, foremen will rotate flaggers and give them breaks. Ballentyne described “mobile” jobs as having three flaggers – front, middle, and back. When it is time to rotate, the flagger in the back will “leapfrog” to the front.

Austin Yurkovich was working one of these mobile operations this past week, when PennDOT was cutting about five miles of shoulder along Route 19 in Amwell Township.

Yurkovich, 23, of Prosperity, has been working as a flagger for PennDOT since January, and has enjoyed the job so far. He spoke with a reporter as the work site moved down Route 19. Yurkovich was in the middle and preparing to take up the back, while the rear flagger got to relax for a few minutes with a ride to the other end.

“I worked out in Baltimore doing in-ground pipelining, and I was tired of traveling. So I decided to come to PennDOT,” Yurkovich said.

Last month there was a week-long heatwave that saw temperatures above 90 degrees. Despite this, Yurkovich says he didn’t have too hard of a time standing in the heat.

“Our foremen always gave us water. They had a bunch of coolers in the bed of the truck, so we were getting water every 30 minutes,” Yurkovich said.

With weather like last month’s heatwave, both Ballentyne and Martin said flaggers get more frequent breaks.

“It’s kind of a good thing at that point in time to be the flagger because you’re not shoveling the hot asphalt,” Ballentyne said.

The crews don’t work in heavy rain or snow. With rain, Ballentyne explained that workers would risk creating slick, muddy roads.

On snowy days the priority becomes keeping the road clear.

“If it’s snowing at all, we’re going to be in the trucks. You’re not flagging anymore. You’re going to be doing snow removal,” Ballentyne said.

When it comes to staying safe while on the job, however, the biggest concern for flaggers, and the crew in general, are the drivers.

Ballentyne explained it’s important for flaggers to be positioned in a way where they can avoid “pinch points” and easily maneuver out of harm’s way. They are also instructed to always be facing oncoming traffic.

Drivers are typically given fair warning of an upcoming work zone, but Ballentyne said they still encounter testy motorists upset at the delay, claiming they never saw any signs.

“There was one time that had happened. That was a chipping operation. I said, ‘Well, hold on. I’ll go, I’ll be right back,'” Ballentyne said. “I went down the road and turned back. I come back and I said, ‘There were 18 signs on this road. You’re telling me you didn’t see any of them?”

Martin has had similar experiences with drivers lacking observational skills.

“All the time. All the time,” Martin said of hearing claims of “I didn’t see any sign.”

Drivers distracted by cellphones or other devices pose a risk to those in work zones, and Martin advises motorists to keep all of their focus on the road.

“Distracted driving is absolutely atrocious. Not just in the work zone, it’s everywhere,” Martin said.

At the end of the day, Martin just hopes for “a little courtesy” toward the crews.

“We’re out there to do a job. We’re in between point A and point B where people want to travel,” Martin said. “Pay attention. Follow the directions given by our flaggers, because they are key to getting you through that work zone.”