Bridge, Road, and Highway Construction Industry

Bridge, Road, and Highway Construction Industry

The section of construction that deals with bridge, road and highway construction uses the NAICS number 237300 for government classification. This subindustry is important, as it keeps our roads safe. However, roads are not the only job in this sector. People can also find work in several areas, including:

• Airport runways.
• Constructing bridges.
• Curbs.
• Gutters.
• New construction for roads and streets.
• Painting lines on the roads.
• Building public sidewalks.
• Resurfacing asphalt roads and parking lots.
• Repairing and reconstructing roads.

Money for road construction comes in the form of taxes against citizens, including gas taxes and lotteries, depending on the state you are in. These monies are paid to the United States Highway Trust Fund. Private companies also build and repair roads. Some municipalities collect tolls to help pay for specific roads.

How the Road is Built

Roads go through an initial planning stage before the four main steps to build a road can be completed. The four major steps are:

• Design: Surveys, including topography, drainage, environmental impact, future development, and traffic volume.
• Earthwork: Grading and dozing, building drains and sewers, adding gravel and layers of other required material where applicable.
• Paving: Can be with asphalt or concrete.
• Testing: Before opening, the road is tested for drainage and vibration. Additional pavement and landscape are added when necessary; otherwise, the construction crew opens the road to motorists.

List of Employment and Occupations in the Road Construction Industry

The number of occupations in the road construction industry under NAICS Code 237,300 is many. The number of people employed in this sector number about 335,370, and they have a mean hourly wage of $30.81. This includes management. The bridge, road and highway construction industry has many employment and occupation opportunities, including this short list:

• Highway maintenance workers.
• Paving, tamping and surface operators.
• Concrete finishers and cement masons.
• Carpenters.
• Heavy equipment mechanics.
• Steelworkers.
• Structural ironworkers.
• Architects, cartographers and surveyors.
• Excavators.
• Transportation and material moving occupations.

Road Construction Activities

Some of the activities performed by road construction workers include:

• Application of paint and oil to roads.
• Application of poison for roadside vegetation.
• Clearing brush.
• Cleaning ditches and basins of debris.
• Compacting materials.
• Paving with concrete.
• Building gutters and drains.
• Diamond grinding.
• Dismantling equipment.
• Directing traffic and flagging motorists.
• Erecting guardrails and fences.
• Working with asphalt.
• Loading materials into large equipment.
• Mixing substances.
• Moving materials and supplies.
• Operating equipment.
• Pouring materials.
• Road repair.
• Sandblasting.
• Sealing joints in the road.
• Setting up safety signs.
• Spraying additives.
• Spreading gravel, sand and asphalt.
• Surveying.
• Welding.

List of Tools Used in Road Construction

Road construction workers not only use large equipment, but they also use many hand tools, some of which are available at Abolox. Some of the hand tools a road and bridge construction worker uses include:

• Blades.
• Burners.
• Chemical sprayers.
• Hammers.
• Curing machines.
• Grouting machines.
• Graders.
• Jackhammers.
• Kettle exchangers.
• Machetes.
• Mowers.
• Milling machines.
• Paint sprayers.
• Pile drivers.
• Paving mixers.
• Welding machines.
• Posthole diggers.
• Saws.
• Rakes.
• Sandblasters.
• Shovels.
• Spreaders.
• Wrenches.
• Survey flags.
• Tachometers.
• Weeders.
• Pruners.

Even the smallest saw or hammer could pose a safety hazard for workers.

Road Construction Safety

Road and bridge construction workers can suffer many types of injuries, including cuts, lacerations, fall injuries, crush injuries, impact injuries, burns, and more. Asphalt is hot and could flame. Electrical subcontractors might experience flash fires. And all workers working in the sun need heat protection.

Workers could fall from heights or suffer crush injuries from large equipment. And road construction often involves motorists passing by. This is especially dangerous while workers are working on a highway, whether building a new highway, adding more lanes, or maintaining an existing highway. Motorists often travel at speeds higher than 55 mph, even in construction zones.

Workers can minimize the risk of injury by using the proper personal protective equipment, much of which is available at Abolox. Road and bridge construction PPE include:

• Face protection.
• Safety glasses and goggles.
• Heat protection.
• Steel toe boots.
• Hi-vis clothing.
• FR clothing.
• Work gloves.
• Welding clothing.

Visit Abolox for Hand Tools and Personal Protective Equipment for Bridge, Road and Highway Construction

Abolox carries most of the personal protective equipment (PPE) and many tools required for bridge, road and highway construction. We carry only quality items from known brands. Browse our site to find what you need. We sell individual quantities and in bulk.

If you don’t see something you need, contact the office, and we will source what you need.