The Colorado Department of Transportations is asking drivers to be cautious in construction work zones as fatal crashes in work zones have increased in 2020, CDOT said Thursday.

The number of traffic fatalities in construction zones this year is more than triple the number from 2018 statewide, increasing from three to 10.

Construction zone fatalities have also increased in the Denver metro area specifically, rising from two in 2019 to five in 2020, according to CDOT data.

CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew called the increase in fatalities “alarming.”

“Each construction and maintenance project has a comprehensive traffic control plan to ensure everyone’s safety,” Lew said, “but we need motorists to slow down and be attentive when they enter a construction zone.”

Lew said many of the fatal crashes in work zones this year have been a result of excessive speed. Despite less traffic due to COVID-19, speed continues to be an issue.

Within a 19-day period in October 2020, the Denver Police Department stopped 96 vehicles traveling an average of 82 mph within the Central 70 Project construction zone.

DPD said over a dozen of the stopped vehicles were traveling 100 mph or higher.

In 2019, the Colorado State Patrol issued 2,975 speeding citations and 4,898 unsafe driving citations in four construction zones.

“It is critical that motorists recognize and follow the posted speed limits while driving through work zones,” said CSP Chief Matthew Packard. “Troopers are serious about enforcing safe driving … motorists should take this seriously too.”

CDOT urges drivers to obey posted speed limits in work zones, stay alert, watch for workers, avoid lane changes, expect delays and be patient.

“Workers spend all day in a potentially dangerous situation to make sure that our infrastructure is safe for Colorado drivers,” Lew said. “Drivers need to do their part.”