Date:  Thursday, April 15, 2010

Contact: Contacts: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080 (Olympia) fimana@wsdot.wa.gov

OLYMPIA – WSDOT joins groups across Washington and across the nation April 19 – 23 for National Work Zone Awareness Week.

The culmination is the WSDOT Worker Memorial to honor fallen workers and remind everyone about the importance of work zone safety. The memorial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday April 22, 2010 at WSDOT headquarters in Olympia

During the 2010 Worker Memorial, there will be a special tribute to WSDOT fallen worker Neal Richards (killed while clearing the roadway near Port Angeles Nov. 19, 2009), with a presentation to his family. His co-workers will unveil a plaque on wall of WSDOT HQ Bldg.

To raise awareness about work zone safety and support roadway workers all over the state, WSDOT and its partners are Going Orange for Work Zone Safety.

As part of Go Orange for Work Zone Safety:

• The entire WSDOT Web site changes to orange Friday (April 16) for one week.
• WSDOT employees, dignitaries, celebrities, and citizens from around the state have also gone orange. You can see them on our Go Orange for Work Zone Safety Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/safety/brake/.
• All Washington residents are encouraged to participate by wearing something orange, and then submit their photos in support of work zone safety.

On Washington’s state and local roads, 46 drivers, passengers and roadway workers were killed and close to 4,000 injured in work zones from 2005-2009. Since 1950, 57 Washington State Department of Transportation employees have lost their lives in work zone-related activities.

For more information on the Go Orange for Work Zone Safety program, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/safety/brake/.

Directions to the 2010 WSDOT Worker Memorial:
From I-5 use exit 105A toward Washington State Capitol. Turn left at Jefferson St SE. Turn right at Maple Park Ave SE/Maple Park Dr SE. Parking is available in the Plaza Garage.

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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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