The 2006 road construction season will be the biggest ever as MoDOT works around the clock to finish making roads smoother and safer. April 3-9 is National Work Zone Awareness Week and traditionally the start of the construction season. However, because of all the work we have planned, some projects this year got under way in March.
“We’re doing everything we can to let motorists know ahead of time where they’ll find construction zones and how they can avoid them or get through them safely with minimum frustration,” said Don Hillis, director of System Management. “While these improvements will increase delays for now, safer roads and a smoother driving surface will be a long-term benefit.”
In his State of the State Address, Gov. Matt Blunt challenged us to finish our Smooth Roads Initiative projects by the end of 2006, and we’re working to deliver. The goal is to bring the most heavily traveled 2,200 miles of Missouri highways up to good condition. All these improvements mean we’ll have more than 1,000 work zones statewide this year, many of them on major interstates and highways.
Getting the Word Out
We’re making special efforts to let motorists know what’s happening through billboards, radio advertisements and construction maps. Two maps – one showing construction projects throughout the state and the other specific to Interstate 70 – are still in the works. When completed, they’ll be posted on our Web site at www.modot.org and distributed statewide.
A map showing construction along Interstate 44, as well as alternate routes, is already available on our Web site. It’s also being distributed all along the I-44 corridor at restaurants, gas stations and other attractions.
A media event to kick off work zone awareness week will be held the evening of April 2 in St. Louis (this may have already happened by the time you read this). The event is designed to show we’re working day and night to help motorists avoid traffic jams. Director Pete Rahn will wear a reflective night suit to drive home the point.
Work Zone Stats
According to Missouri statistics, most work zone crashes are caused by inattention, excessive speed and following too closely. Also, motorists are the ones most likely to be killed or injured in a work-zone crash – though far too many MoDOT employees and contractors have also lost their lives.
In 2004, 28 motorists died and 1,167 people were injured in work-zone crashes in Missouri. In 2005, 28 MoDOT employees were injured in work zones. Between 2000 and 2005, 119 were killed and 6,267 were inured in Missouri work zones. Since 2000, 214 MoDOT employees have been injured and four MoDOT workers have been killed in work zones.
“In the grand scheme of things, a few minutes of inconvenience means years of smoother, safer driving,” Hillis said. “We’re doing our part to keep you moving through Missouri, but the difference is you. Drive smart and arrive alive.”
