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Latest news with #WorkZoneAwarenessWeek

Have you seen the traffic monsters? Norfolk project promotes work-zone safety
Have you seen the traffic monsters? Norfolk project promotes work-zone safety

Yahoo

time25-04-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

Have you seen the traffic monsters? Norfolk project promotes work-zone safety

A trio of brightly colored monsters popped up around Norfolk this week, looming over road construction sites baring their teeth, drawing surprised looks from motorists. Burghy, Seymour and Binker were built by Norfolk's Department of Public Works more than a decade ago as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week. The campaign, which began in 1999, is aimed at highlighting safety concerns around construction zones and encourages motorists to 'respect the zone so we all get home.' Each of the monsters is built out of traffic barrels and other traffic management equipment. Binker has a bulkier frame, shaggy green hair and a furrowed brow. Seymour sports two large eyes – that are almost too big for his head – and a gaping round mouth, and Burghy has a long red mohawk with beady eyes and a deep V on his chest. City officials aren't sure where the names came from. Norfolk is the only Hampton Roads city that participates in building the traffic barrel monsters. 'When the weather warms up, road work ramps up in the City of Norfolk and everywhere. Road work means work zones and crews, so awareness is important,' Alana Smith, management analyst for Norfolk Public Works, said in an email. 'Slow down, put the phone down, avoid distractions whenever you see orange cones or barrels – for everyone's safety.' Smith said Norfolk's traffic workers take pride in their monsters. 'The Streets and Bridges teams enjoy the reaction when people start to notice the monsters and take great care to make sure they're properly stored and maintained so they can keep coming back for Work Zone Awareness Week,' she said. Public Works rotates their locations each year, focusing on high-traffic areas but avoiding putting them at active work zones so the monsters don't become distractions themselves, according to Smith. The number of total deaths in work zone-related wrecks decreased by 8%, from 880 to 821, from 2021 to 2022, the first decline in such deaths since 2018, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Of the more than 800 people who were killed in work zone crashes in the United States in 2022, 85% were motorists or their passengers, according to the Work Zone Safety Clearinghouse. Since 2019, fatal highway worker injuries at road construction sites have decreased from 135 to 94 in 2022, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806,

Busy road in Riverview closed for several weeks for FDOT's 301 construction project
Busy road in Riverview closed for several weeks for FDOT's 301 construction project

Yahoo

time25-04-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

Busy road in Riverview closed for several weeks for FDOT's 301 construction project

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Starting Friday night, a busy road in the Riverview area will close down for the next three weeks. Things along Boyette Road will look different as the Florida Department of Transportation continues its massive repaving project. Lanes will start shutting down on Boyette Road at the intersection of US 301. 'This is a 25-million-dollar project, a big part of it is converting the intersection from asphalt to concrete, there's a lot of truck traffic out there, and concrete is more durable, and it lasts longer. Another part of the project is resurfacing a big section of US 301,' said Kris Carson, a spokesperson for FDOT. The section is on 301 from Whitt Road to Rivercrest Drive. As a part of the project, Boyette Road to the east of 301 will be closed. Detours will be in place for drivers along Bloomingdale Avenue, Bell Shoals Road, McMullen Road, and Rhodine Road. As a part of the intersection closure, drivers can expect heavy traffic. 'Businesses will remain open, access to businesses will remain open, but there can be some congestion expected. Of course, if you're getting off I-75 at Gibsonton, you can still exit the interstate, but you cannot cross over to Boyette, we want to make sure people understand that,' Carson said. Once this phase is complete, the intersection will be re-stripped, and an additional left turn lane from Boyette onto Southbound US 301 will be put in, FDOT said. Carson said their men and women are working hard to get all of this done, and as a part of Work Zone Awareness Week, they want to make sure those behind the wheel pay attention. 'It's really simple, put down your phone, slow down, we all work in offices, a lot of our workers are outside, they work along the road, and they're improving the roads for all of us and we just ask people to pay attention,' she said. Boyette Road is expected to be closed for 21 days, and FDOT wants to remind people to have patience and to drive carefully. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Colorado transportation officials focus on reducing deadly construction zone crashes
Colorado transportation officials focus on reducing deadly construction zone crashes

CBS News

time24-04-2025

  • Automotive
  • CBS News

Colorado transportation officials focus on reducing deadly construction zone crashes

Transportation officials in Colorado are urging drivers to be careful around construction zones. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, 31 people lost their lives in 23 crashes around work zones in the state last year. This week marks Work Zone Awareness Week to remember the fallen and prevent future tragedies. CBS CDOT says crashes around work zones are 100% preventable, so these deaths should not be happening. There is signage posted around every work zone, including detours, do not enter, work zone ahead and even speed limit signs. Drivers are urged to slow down around construction zones, never drive distracted, and notice lane shifting and when a lane gets narrower. Experts say we are losing too many lives on Colorado roadways. CBS "There is no reason to have a death on our roadway," said Sam Cole, Traffic Safety Manager for CDOT. "It is always related to bad behaviors. Bad behavior is preventable. Every one of these deaths and injuries is 100% preventable." Drivers who are caught speeding through a construction zone, ticket fees and points on your license will be doubled. It only takes 12 points to lose your license.

Go Orange Day: Join MDOT in honoring work zone safety
Go Orange Day: Join MDOT in honoring work zone safety

Yahoo

time22-04-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

Go Orange Day: Join MDOT in honoring work zone safety

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) encouraged everyone to participate in Go Orange Day on Wednesday, April 23 by wearing orange apparel. This is part of Work Zone Awareness Week. In 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were 891 total work zone fatalities nationwide, including an estimated 96,000 crashes inside work zones nationally. In Mississippi, there were four fatal crashes in work zones in 2022. Mississippi marks Work Zone Awareness Week for road safety 'Please join us as we wear orange on Wednesday, April 23, to show our support for the men and women who work tirelessly to keep Mississippi's roads safe,' MDOT officials said. Drivers in work zones are encouraged to slow down, put the phone away, pay attention to advanced warning signs and be alert for roadside crews throughout Mississippi. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Indiana State Police highlight National Work Zone Awareness week
Indiana State Police highlight National Work Zone Awareness week

Yahoo

time22-04-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

Indiana State Police highlight National Work Zone Awareness week

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- It is national Work Zone Awareness Week, and Indiana State Police are reminding everyone to exercise caution when entering work zones. State police chase stolen cruiser from Indiana to Kentucky There were roughly 7,000 crash in work zones in Indiana during 2024, which included 1,500 injuries and 30 deaths. Police say people need to change their perception with construction zones, as they aren't there just slow drivers down. Indiana State Police Sergeant Ted Bohner says 'The main focus when you're driving should be doing exactly that- driving… You should follow the speed limit and just cate about yourselves, your passengers and everybody that's out there working in that zone, because their purpose is to make our life easier by improving our infrastructure.' Indiana State Police say cell phones continue to be a big distraction, despite Indiana's hands-free driving law, which was implemented in 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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