The long days of summer were a little longer for those students making the trip on U.S. Route 50 this year.

Construction began last year to expand Route 50 to a four-lane highway and will continue through 1999, said Gregory Wright, an Ohio Department of Transportation project engineer.

"This is the biggest project District 10 has ever had and it's going to take some time," he said.

Built in the 1950s, the road has had no changes in 40 years-besides the usual pothole and weather-damage repairs.

The problems on the site have been minor; however, speeding motorists have posed a threat to the safety of the workers, Wright said.

"It's a necessity that we cross that highway," he said. "People have a hard time with the 45 mph limit, but it's for their safety. We have trucks weighing thousands of pounds coming in and out of there all the time."

Dispatcher Rodney Robinson of the Ohio Highway Patrol confirmed a flagger at the site was struck, albeit not seriously, by a speeding truck.

Violation of the posted speed limit carries the usual doubled fine of all construction zones, and he advises all drivers to slow down and exercise extreme caution.

Students, many of whom must drive Route 50 to get to and from OU, believe the improvements to the road are worth the extra time spent in the car now.

Brian Haynam, an OU sophomore, said he usually goes about 55 mph through the construction.

"The two new lanes will be much better," he said, "If you get behind someone, you can pass them now."

Gina Nyeste, also a sophomore, agrees with Haynam.

"It'll be awesome when it's done," she said. "It used to be that you got behind one truck on that highway and you were screwed; you'd be going 40 forever. But when it's done, we'll get anywhere in no time."