“Undocumented workers built Florida’s roads — and died in the process”

…For years, Archer Western workers died on the job at a rate experts said should have raised alarm in Tallahassee. State officials knew about at least two of the deaths, records show — and alleged in court that the company’s negligence was to blame for one of them…the state transportation agency has awarded Atlanta-based Archer Western and its partners nearly $1.6 billion in contracts…

Eight Archer Western workers died from 2016 to 2023 — all but one on projects for the state of Florida…

At least three victims were undocumented, including the two men … originally from Honduras…

…state leaders have hammered the message that immigrants without legal status pose threats to American citizens, the state has relied on undocumented laborers for some of its biggest road projects — and put them at risk in the process…

Five safety experts told the Times that Archer Western’s record was appalling…

Archer Western didn’t answer specific questions from the Times. But in a statement, the company said it deeply regrets the eight employee deaths…

Archer Western…is a subsidiary of the Chicago-based Walsh Group…

The company has been hired for taxpayer-funded construction projects by the state of Florida for two decades, records show. Its contracts total more than $5 billion…