Construction Work Zone Safety 2026: 898 Deaths, a $100,000 Reward, and What Every Highway Contractor Must Do Before the December Deadline

A 25-year-old Kokosing Construction employee was killed in a 2 AM hit-and-run on I-70. His employer is offering $100,000 for information. Work zone fatalities hit 898 in 2023, up 50% in a decade. A federal compliance deadline hits December 31, 2026. This episode breaks down the crisis, the new rules, and the 7 things every highway contractor must implement NOW.