ST. LOUIS HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION REPORT
For more information on road construction call 1-888-ASK MODOT.

"If it's happening in St. Louis, it's on Saint Louis Front Page."

How To Reach Us:
St. Louis Front Page
P.O. Box 1354
St. Louis, MO 63188

Voice: 314-771-0200
Fax: 314-771-0300

To submit news, contact:
editor@slfp.com

To advertise, contact:
advertising@slfp.com

(L - R) Tim Embree, St. Louis City Mayor's Office, Ltd. Mike Hermann, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ltd. Carlos Ross, St. Louis City Police Department, Garry Earls, St. Louis County Chief Operating Officer, Leon Toenjees, President of Associated General Contractors and Ed Hassinger, MoDOT St. Louis District Engineer introduced the Work Zone Safety Week message during a press conference at Kingshighway and I-64.

Drivers Reminded Not to Barrel Through Work Zones
Buildings and Landmarks Lit Orange to Promote Work Zone Awareness Week
ST. LOUIS, MO, April 07, 2008 - Too many Missouri Department of Transportation employees can tell harrowing stories of near misses in work zones and accidents that left them in the ditch, on top of their truck or in the hospital. One message these workers have for Missouri motorists is: "When you see orange signs, they are there for a reason. Slow down and be alert."

As highway construction again gears up for the year, MoDOT is working to prevent work zone accidents by reminding motorists, "Don't Barrel Through Work Zones." Billboard and radio advertising throughout the state will carry that message through the construction season.

MoDOT is also sponsoring Operation Orange for the second year to increase work zone awareness and honor fallen workers by lighting state landmarks orange during Work Zone Awareness Week, April 7-11.

MoDOT's Traffic Management Center is lit orange on the front and the back of the building as well as its sign at the entrance of the TMC. A banner that says, "Work Zone Safety Awareness...Drive Smart to Arrive Alive," is displayed on the front of the TMC to show motorists why MoDOT has lit this building orange.

Corporations, organizations and landmarks within the St. Louis area are supporting MoDOT's Work Zone Safety messages." Some are lighting their buildings or landmarks orange while some are placing messages on their building and website to show the public the importance of Work Zone Safety.

The water in the Running Man Fountain at Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis was turned orange in support of MoDOt's Work Zone Safety week. (SLFP.com file photo)

The local Operation Orange supporters include:

America's Center
Balke Brown Associates
City of Vinita Park - Public Works Department
Kiener Plaza
Kozeny Wagner Contracting
Logan College of Chiropractic
Lumiere Place
Maritz
Missouri Botanical Gardens
NB Larry West Contracting
Residence Inn at I-64/Jefferson Avenue
Saint Louis Science Center
Six Flags St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
St. Louis Zoo

More information about Operation Orange can be found at www.modot.org/operationorange.

"Work zone deaths and injuries are preventable," MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. "Most often they are caused by inattention. We need drivers to be alert."

Education and enforcement efforts, along with improved engineering measures, appear to be paying off. In 2007, five people were killed in work zones, a 74 percent decrease from 2006 when 19 people were killed. Work zone injuries decreased more than 60 percent. There were approximately 800 people injured in 2007 work zones, compared to 1,190 in 2006.

According to Missouri statistics, most work zone crashes are caused by inattention, excessive speed and following too closely. Motorists are the ones most likely to be killed or injured in a work-zone crash.

Work zones will be all over the state again this year as MoDOT continues its Better Roads, Brighter Future initiative. The plan calls for improvements on 5,600 more miles of major roadways by 2011 and will bring 85 percent of Missouri's roadways up to good condition.

The Better Roads, Brighter Future program targets highways carrying 80 percent of all traffic on the state highway system, which is 103 million miles traveled a day. When the program is complete at the end of 2011, the improved roads will prevent approximately 85 disabling injuries and save 10 lives every year.

Beginning this year, crews will also be working hard on the Interstate 64 construction project in St. Louis, as well as the kcICON project to improve Interstate 29 and Interstate 35 in north Kansas City, including a new Christopher S. Bond Bridge. Work will also begin on the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program, which will improve 800 bridges over the next five years.

For more information about construction projects statewide or to access the 2008 statewide construction map, visit www.modot.org or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

Archived News:

Missouri, Illinois Reach Agreement on New $640 Million Mississippi River Bridge

MoDOT To Launch Origin/Destination Web Tool

Chouteau Bridge to Reopen

Gateway Constructors Selected for $535 Million Project to Reconstruct I-64

I-64 Approved as MoDOT's First Design-Build Project

Largest-Ever Missouri Road-Building Program Approved

The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2006 Moore Design Group.