National Work Zone Awareness Week Launches in the District of Columbia

Washington D.C - Today, the District Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) kicked off National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW).

NWZAW is held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones and bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones.

“In a city like Washington, DC, that is constantly growing and thriving, work zones are part of our everyday lives,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “National Work Zone Awareness Week is an opportunity to remind motorists that safety is everyone’s responsibility, especially in work zones.”

This year’s theme “Drive Like You Work Here” emphasizes the importance of motorists following traffic rules that keep roadway workers safe in work zones. NWZAW brings national attention to motorist and worker safety in work zones.

“National Work Zone Awareness Week is an important time to spread awareness for work zone safety, and clearly send the message that safer roads save lives,” said ATSSA President and CEO Roger Wentz.  “When interacting with a work zone, remember that those roadway workers are people with families, and they want to get home safely each night.”

The kickoff event was held at the staging ground for the New Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (FDMB) project in Washington, DC.  The bridge is the largest infrastructure project in the history of the District, and once complete, will increase pedestrian and motorist safety and improve multimodal transportation options on both sides of the Anacostia River.

“Every day, in highway work zones from coast to coast, state DOT employees put their lives on the line making communities safer, stronger, and more efficient,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). “Motorists owe it to those workers, their families, and the rest of the traveling public, to stay alert in work zones so that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.”

As part of the event, ATSSA’s Memorial Wall will be on display in the District. The National Work Zone Memorial pays homage to individuals who have been killed in roadway work zones. A traveling tribute to these men and women—roadway workers, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement officers, public safety officials (firefighters and paramedics) and children—the National Work Zone Memorial brings public awareness of safe driving at dozens of events across the country.