I loved working on Pennsylvania's roads first hand, filling pot holes, clearing drains, putting up temporary road signs, riding in dump trucks, jumping out of dump trucks to save turtles, and what most of my time was spent doing: flagging. Many days were grueling labor in very hot, dangerous conditions, but at the end of the day it always felt good knowing that you've helped a huge number of fellow Pennsylvanians.
What I wish was different
I wish I was able to do a few more things. My stockpile (a specific area that acts as a hub for about 10 workers as well as a material and vehicle storage facility) was one of 7 in Perry County, PA. They had rules forbidding interns from driving the pick-up trucks, but interns were allowed to do labor outside of flagging.
Just across the river in Dauphin County, one of my friends in the same position with the same lack of certification beyond a regular drivers license actually drove so much they got tired of it. Contrarily, they were not allowed to do the same manual labor I was doing.
Advice
I absolutely do not say this with intent to exclude anyone. I believe we're all equal and all capable of the work available here. With that important preface covered, I strongly recommend that women and non-white peers avoid working with road crews.
Perhaps other crews behave differently, however I can say with the complete confidence of hearing remarkably cruel, racist, sexist remarks multiple times everyday at any remotely possible opportunity. For perspective, I heard several different coworkers say the n-word multiple times every day. If I didn't look the way I do, I truly believe I would've had a bad time.
