ATSSA Signal July/August 2020

The Signal | July/August 2020 21 Events Creativity key to NWZAW with distancing demands Michigan kickoff event canceled but safety advocates get their message out Thisyear’sNationalWorkZoneAware- ness Week theme included the phrase, “We Can Do It,” and that proved apt as groups across the country were forced tofind creativeways toobserve theweek that draws attention to the risks of road- way work. The April 21 kickoff event scheduled for Ypsilanti,Mich.,was canceledas thenation put a halt to large gatherings to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. And while Michigan Department of Transpor- tation (MDOT) officials couldn’t carry out their elaborate plans this year, they will have the opportunity in 2021. They were awarded the honor of hosting againnext year because of this year’s unusual situa- tion. The VirginiaDOT (VDOT), whichhad been slated to host next year will instead host in 2022. NWZAW, which took place April 20–24, highlights the importance of safe driving throughwork zones because of the risks of injuryor death. In2018, themost recent year forwhich statistics are available, 674 fatal crashes took place inwork zones kill- ing 754 people, including 124 roadway workers, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. States includingCalifornia, Colorado, and Minnesotarecognizedthe lives lost towork zone accidents even though they couldn’t hold in-person events. TheCaliforniaDepartment of Transporta- tion, better known as Caltrans, honored the 189highwayworkers killed since 1921 by placing 189 traffic cones in a diamond shape tosymbolizeahighwaycautionsign. The name of each person was affixed to one of the orange cones and one black cone at the center represented all of the lives lost. That included Caltrans employ- ees, private contractors, and California Highway Patrol officers. “We remain impassioned to honor our fallen heroes and their families this year, despite thephysical distancingmeasures we are all taking. Regardless of the chal- lengeswemay face as a state, wemust all pause to remember the sacrifices made by these individuals and their lovedones,” Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin said in a statement announcing the event. TheColoradoDOT (CDOT) held its annual remembranceday onApril 21, pausing to honor the 62 employees killed on duty. CDOT also held a variety of other events across the state tomark NWZAW. “We will continue to honor the memory of our departed colleagues each and every year, nomatter the circumstances,” ExecutiveDirector ShoshanaLewsaid ina statement released by CDOT. “And unfor- tunately,weagain lost anotherCDOT team member last month after hewas injured while doing his job on a state roadway. We will never rest still until every one of our employees gets home safely to their families and loved ones.” At the state’s longest work zone—the 18-mile Interstate 25 South Gap Project —CDOT produced a social media video, held a coloring contest for elementary students, and posted both electronic safety messages and a billboard. Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) held a Worker Memorial Day to honor its 35 workers and 15 contractors who have lost their