Date:  Thursday, March 31, 2011

Contact: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, 360-705-7080 (Olympia)

OLYMPIA – In recognition of the men and women who work mere feet from traffic, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) along with state and national groups will go orange for work zone safety April 4 through 9 to celebrate National Work Zone Awareness Week.

To show its support, WSDOT’s website will trade in its traditional green and switch to orange for one week. WSDOT will also post photos and tributes to roadway workers, and share ideas for work zone safety on its social media sites, including Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and Blogger.

Media and others across the state are encouraged to show their orange to honor roadway workers and bring national attention to motorist and worker safety. You can see examples from 2010 and submit your 2011 submissions on the Go Orange for Work Zone Safety website. WSDOT encourages everyone join in and submit their photos in support of work zone safety.

“Going orange is an opportunity for all of us to show support for those working Washington’s roadsides, whether they’re with WSDOT, cities, counties, utilities or contractors,” said Paula Hammond, Washington transportation secretary. “By raising awareness about work zone safety, we help ensure that all workers get home safely to their families each night.”

WSDOT and highway road crews ask drivers to slow down and pay attention when traveling through construction zones. When drivers help keep workers safe, they also help themselves. National studies show that drivers are the only victims in four out of five work zone crashes. In Washington, more than 11,000 collisions occurred in work zones between 2005 and 2009. Of those collisions, close to 4,000 caused injuries and 46 caused someone’s death.

To kick off the construction season and work zone awareness, WSDOT hosted its 2011 Worker Memorial on March 22. Video of the event, including statements from family members, is available on the WSDOT Memorial website.


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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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