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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546 |
| FOR RELEASE: March 24, 2015 |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot |
Connecticut Department of Transportation Kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week: March 23 - 27
Campaign Urges Connecticut Residents to Obey the Orange in an Effort to Increase Safety of Workers on Roads
NEWINGTON, CT (March 24, 2015) – The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) and states across the country are promoting National Work Zone Awareness Week from March 23 – 27, 2015. A harsh winter will bring a lot of maintenance activity on our roadways and other projects that have been in a lull during the winter months will start up again in earnest as the warm weather arrives.
The national and state campaigns are designed to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers of work zones in an effort to increase the safety of workers and motorists on the roads.
“Connecticut and the nation are committed to increasing motorist and worker safety in work zones and reducing highway fatalities and injuries,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “Our safety partners understand the risks and are committed to doing whatever needs to be done to protect the people that not only work on our roads but also the people that drive on our roads.”
The theme for National Work Zone Awareness Week 2015 is “Expect the Unexpected” This was the original theme used 15 years ago in the national event that was created to focus attention on work zone safety and work zone workers. Since the creation of the national campaign by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), ATSSA and AASHTO, the number of work zone fatalities has dropped significantly.
Connecticut’s motto “Obey the Orange - Slow Down For Work Zones” and “Expect the Unexpected” emphasize that each of us – whether motorist, pedestrian, or worker – can all play a role in reducing the number of crashes and injuries by exercising caution in roadway work zones.
Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman will be a guest speaker at the press conference, which will also announce the winners of the 2015 poster contest, which is open to all public school children in grades K-6.
The event will also be attended by highway construction and maintenance workers, private contractors, public utility companies, construction industry associations, and state and local police to help increase the awareness and importance of safe driving by the motoring public.
Connecticut Work Zone Safety Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 @ 10:00 a.m.
Conference Rooms A&B
Connecticut Main Building
2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT
SPEAKERS
Opening Remarks and Host
James Redeker
Commissioner
Department of Transportation
Honorable Nancy Wyman
Lieutenant Governor
State of Connecticut
Antonio Guerrera and Russ Morin
State Representatives
Transportation Committee
Michael Bzdyra
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Motor Vehicles
Amy Jackson-Grove
Division Administrator
FHWA- CT Division
Chief John (Jack) Daly
Southington Police Department
Connecticut Police Chiefs Association
Captain Thomas Begert
Executive Officer Western District Headquarters
Connecticut State Police
PRESENTATIONS
Changing of the Guard
Terri Thompson
Frederick DiNardi - New Chairperson
Work Zone Safety Awareness Group
Donation Check to American Traffic Safety Services Association Foundation
Connecticut Work Zone Safety Working Group
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
on behalf of November 2014 Orange Out Event
2015 Roadway Safety Poster Contest
Opening Remarks- Donna Shea
Safety Video
How to Be Safe on the Roadway
Produced by Nicole Creaturo, CT Technology Transfer Center
Poster Presentations
Mary McCarthy
University of Connecticut, CT Technology Transfer Center
To get up to the date information as well as safety tips and news, visit the Department of Transportation Website at www.ct.gov/dot and click on ObeytheOrange logo or go to www.facebook.com/CTWorkZoneSafety