Why are trucks assigned to the left lane on interstates undergoing construction..?

Eskimo Mom

In many construction zones, trucks are assigned to the left lane because the right lane is originally the shoulder of the road. Shoulders aren't made to be as durable as the main body of the road. The weight of multiple semis will tear up the shoulder & cause problems later on for everyone. In addition, the left lane give semis a little room to maneuver & prevents them from accidentally getting off of the pavement, which can cause a loss of control or a load shift. Even if the construction zone is not marked for trucks left lane, many drivers may move over just to prevent problems.

Texas Underdog

They aren't always, but when they are it's for safety and smoother traffic flow.
The construction crew is safer if the trucks are farther away from the work area, and keeping the trucks in the farthest lane from them to begin with keeps (well cuts down) traffic jams from happening when a truck has to change lanes in heavy traffic. Big trucks create a lot of wind turbulance as they pass.

4 wheel vehicle drivers are the real problem. They can't see far enough ahead (because the aren't high enough) to see which lane to get in to start with. Then they get trapped in the wrong lane, and have to switch, which causes a slow down for everybody behind them.

Did you mean WHY is there a cement barrier on the left?
To keep vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic and having a head-on collision.

In cities (like Atlanta, Ga.) trucks are prohibited from using the left lane. This is a stupid rule, as most of the trucks are just passing through, while most of the cars are local. The cars have to cross the truck lanes to get to the left lane, then a mile or so dowon the road will cross again to get to their exit ramp. If the passing through trucks were allowed to use the left lanes, and the cars not allowed in the far left lane (in my opinion) there would be less accidents, and the trucks could get through town faster thus producing less exahust fumes in town. But politicians who make the rules don't drive big trucks, and don't see it that way.
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jl_robinson15

professional truck drivers are good enough to never hit that thing. Also.. the right lane is for exiting/entering traffic, and most trucks are just on their way somewhere else...

Makes it easier on the rest of the travelers.

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