To　clarify　the　effect　of　the　cooperative　vehicle　infrastructure　system　(CVIS)　application　on　drivers＇　visual　performance,　a　total　of　37　drivers　were　recruited　to　drive　the　simulated　roadway　in　a　freeway　work　zone　under　baseline　and　cooperative　vehicle　environments.　Drivers＇　attention　and　concentration　on　the　forward　roadway,　attention　distraction,　and　attention　distribution　in　both　scenarios　were　analyzed.　The　results　indicated　that　the　CVIS　application　changed　drivers＇　information-processing　mode　in　the　forward　roadway　as　manifested　by　higher　glance　frequency　and　shorter　average　dwell　time.　In　addition,　more　off-road　distractions　were　observed　in　the　range　of　500　m　in　front　of　the　work　zone,　but　focusing　on　human-machine　interfaces　(HMIs)　was　not　the　main　cause.　In　conclusion,　the　change　in　the　driver＇s　attention　allocation　and　the　diversion　was　clarified　with　the　proposed　visual　link　diagram.　This　paper　provides　a　comprehensive　approach　to　visual　assessment　of　CVIS　and　contributes　to　the　customized　design　and　optimization　of　future　CVIS-HMI.