MoDOT, District 8, Springfield -- A significant increase in pavement work on Interstate 44, Missouri Route 13, U.S. 65, U.S. 60 and other roadways in the state will mean more lane closings and slowdowns for drivers during warm weather months this year.
More work zones means drivers will be asked more often than ever to reduce speed, merge carefully into one lane or come to a complete stop and, above all, exercise patience and courtesy toward other drivers as well as toward highway workers.
The need for safe driving where Missouri Department of Transportation crews and highway contractors are doing their jobs on the highways is emphasized April 4-8 during MoDOT's Work Zone Awareness Week.
The seriousness of work zone safety will be underscored at 1 p.m. Monday, April 4 at MoDOT's District Office at 3025 E. Kearney St. in Springfield. A memorial, paid for by employees, will be dedicated recognizing the sacrifices of MoDOT workers who, serving the taxpayers, have died in work-related accidents.
MoDOT in the Springfield region has lost 10 highway workers killed in the line of duty since 1950. They are John C. Hawkins, Paul Atchley, Myrl Grayson, James Campbell, Paul C. Holt, Pete Menard, Everett Bullock, Preston Ellington, Charles L. Rogers Jr. and Rick L. Harmon.
Being aware of the potential hazards in work zones and slowing down to drive accordingly helps keep everyone on the road safe, said Springfield District Engineer Dale Ricks.
"Our safety approach is not only to protect our workers but also to protect the driving public," Ricks said. "We don't want anyone hurt."
The additional work on Missouri's roads is a direct result of a positive statewide vote in 2004 on Amendment 3, shifting transportation-related funds back to MoDOT. MoDOT is using a major amount of that money in 2005 through 2007 for resurfacing projects in a program called "Smoother, Safer, Sooner."
“This summer motorists won't be able to go from one good-sized city to the next without encountering at least one work zone,” said Pete Rahn, MoDOT director.
“We hope motorists are patient with us this summer,” Rahn said. “In the grand scheme of things, a few minutes of inconvenience means years of smoother, safer driving. The best thing drivers can do for their safety is stay alert, buckle up, follow signs and remember that ‘The Difference is YOU! Drive Smart.’”
Driver inattention, excessive speed, drinking or drug use, improper lane changes or following too closely cause most work-zone crashes, national studies show. It’s the driver who is most likely to be killed or injured in a work zone crash -– though far too many MoDOT employees and contractors also have lost their lives.
Since 1945, 71 MoDOT workers have died as a result of work-related accidents on or near the highway. Many involved workers being hit by a car or truck approaching or traveling in a work zone. In 2004, three MoDOT employees were killed and 69 were injured in work zones.
In 2003, the most recent year for which complete statistics have been compiled, 23 drivers died and 1,559 people were injured in work-zone crashes in Missouri.
To help drivers navigate all these work zones, MoDOT has developed a new web-based construction map that shows the latest work and traffic delays. This map will be available starting April 1 at www.modot.org .For statewide information by phone, call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or 573-751-2551 in Jefferson City.
A brochure and map showing major highway and bridge projects scheduled for 2005 in the Springfield District's 12 counties is available in the MoDOT District Office at 3025 E. Kearney St. in Springfield or by calling 417-895-7600.
