I mean when someone does work on a public park or road they still put up fences and orange tape, and you still can't go all up in the work site. There's got to be some precedent for handling construction projects on public land.
Yeah there was nothing stopping the reporter from forcing his way through, but it's easier to play the victim later and stir the pot if you just play along and show everyone else the shit they are pulling.
What is he going to ask the workers? their working conditions, what they're doing, etc? No one gives a fuck about that shit. News is all about drama and how many people died today, followed by sports and the weather.