Highways are an essential part of America. All across the country, people use highways to travel to work, for vacations, to visit family, and even just to go shopping. Because of this, our nation’s roads are in constant need of maintenance. Snow, storms, and heavy equipment also add to the burden. Highway maintenance workers keep our nation in gear, by repairing and restoring these roads. These men and women patch damaged pavement, erect guardrails, and establish highway markers to improve safety. They also clear brush and plant trees, making traveling not only safer, but more pleasant as well. Most maintenance workers are employed by state and local governments. On the job they develop skills with an array of tools, including, posthole diggers, power tools, picks and saws. In some areas of the country, highway maintenance workers make repairs on airport runways. This job is good for people who like physical activity, the outdoors, and a certain amount of freedom from the everyday workplace. Highway maintenance workers have the satisfaction of knowing that, after a good day’s work, they may have helped prevent an accident…or at least made travel a little more pleasant.