About Highway Construction Training

Highway construction is an essential aspect of establishing freedom of movement throughout the nation. State and local governments are most often given the responsibility to maintain the roads in a particular locale by sponsoring programs to train eligible workers. Highway construction training includes classroom coursework, technical skills training and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 certification. Most training sessions can be completed in 10 weeks or less.

Classroom Coursework

The classroom coursework aspect of highway construction training covers math for the trades, English and elementary science. These subjects may not be a critical part of the trainee's job as a highway constructionist, but they are designed to measure basic intelligence to ensure that he possess the ability to operate technical machinery. Classroom coursework will be taught at a local community college or adult learning center and comprises approximately 30 percent of the highway construction training program.

Technical Skills

The technical skills segment of a highway construction training program consumes about 60 percent of the total program time and will teach the trainee how to complete the job. He will learn about paving, drills and how to operate heavy machinery. Crane safety, forklifts and rigging are also taught so that the trainee will be ready to begin working immediately upon completing the program. Technical skills are considered the practical component of the highway construction training program, so it is taught in the field on various roadways. 

OSHA 10 Certification

Highway construction can be a dangerous job because it often occurs in the midst of rush hour traffic. Workers must sometimes scale high bridges or even work in underwater tunnels. The 10-hour OSHA course teaches future highway workers how to stay safe on the job. Once this important course has been successfully completed, trainees will receive a certificate of completion that qualifies him to become a highway construction worker.