You might want to think twice before you hit the gas on Highway 75 in Sullivan County, especially in construction zones.

A good rule of thumb is if you see orange cones or barrels on the road, workers could be close by. That's why all drivers should slow down.

Having a backyard torn apart by construction is a challenge for Tammy Smith, mostly because she's worrying about work crews. "They're crossing the road, they're pulling out. People need to slow down," she said.

But there are some making it their job to catch drivers flying down Highway 75. Sergeant Ken Wright with the Tennessee Highway Patrol said speed has always been a problem on this stretch of 75. "But now that construction is here if you're speeding any on this road, if you're going much over 45 miles per hour, you're endangering everybody," he said.

THP has actually increased patrols in the construction zone. Near the Tri-Cities Airport the speed limit is marked at 35 miles per hour. Sergeant Wright says a few miles down the road the speed limit goes back up to 45 miles per hour.

"People are passing on double yellow lines, just people in a hurry that can't wait for people actually going the speed limit," said Sergeant Wright.

Even though crews aren't working in the rain or late at night, a speeding ticket can still cost you at least $200. That practically doubles if crews are working. Those speeding tickets start at $400, but there could be more charges. "If there are people working and you're speeding close to where they are, reckless endangerment charges come in and that's an arrestable offense," added Sergeant Wright.

Smith even has a word of warning for cars speeding past her home: "Pay attention to what you're doing because it doesn't take but a split second for everything to change," he said.

Construction should wrap up around the end of May of 2013 according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

News 5 also checked with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office and learned they have had some verbal complaints about speeding on Highway 75 as well.