Governor Bredesen Declares April 6-10 Work Zone Awareness Week
Monday, April 06, 2009 | 08:54am
TDOT Reminds Motorists to Stay Safe When Driving in Work Zones
Nashville, TN — Governor Phil Bredesen today proclaimed the week of April 6 – 10, 2009 as Work Zone Awareness Week, joining states across the nation to remind motorists to be safe in work zones. TDOT will hold events across the state this week in an effort to improve safety in Tennessee’s interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones.
“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will bring hundreds of new transportation projects to counties across the state,” said Governor Bredesen. “This will mean an increase in highway work zones and increased dangers for motorists and for workers. I hope by proclaiming this week Work Zone Awareness Week in Tennessee we can bring greater attention to the importance of work zone safety.”
The Tennessee Department of Safety reports that in 2007 there were 21 fatal crashes in work zones in Tennessee.
“An overwhelming majority of those killed in work zone crashes in Tennessee are drivers or occupants of a vehicle,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “For your own safety and the safety of our workers, it is imperative to slow down and pay attention in work zones. It really can be the difference between life and death.”
TDOT will conduct a number of events throughout the week in recognition of Work Zone Awareness Week:
- April 6 – 2:00 p.m. Central – Nashville – TDOT will kick-off Work Zone Awareness Week with an event at its Region 3 Complex that will be a visual reminder of the TDOT workers who have lost their lives in work zone crashes.
- April 6 – 10:00 a.m. – Halls, TN – TDOT will announce the statewide winner of the “Project Orange” Teen Video Contest. The winner was selected from more than 70 entries from students across the state. The winning video will be aired on television stations all over Tennessee during Work Zone Awareness Week.
- April 9 – 8:30 a.m. Central – Gaylord Opryland Resort & Hotel – TDOTwill present their “Between the Barrels” teen driver education program to approximately 1,000 students from the FCCLA Conference.
- April 6 through 10 – TDOT’s Regional Complexes in Jackson, Nashville and Knoxville will be lighted in orange at night in honor of Work Zone Awareness Week.
- April 6 through 10 – TDOT will display important Work Zone Safety reminders on overhead message boards in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville.
A copy of the proclamation recognizing April 6 through 10 as Work Zone Awareness Week is attached to this release.
Event times and locations are listed below:
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Work Zone Awareness Week Event Times and Locations: |
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April 6 |
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| 2:00 p.m. Central Time | Work Zone Awareness Week Kick-Off Event | Contact: B.J. Doughty |
| TDOT Region 3 Complex |
615-350-4302 |
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| 6601 Centennial Blvd. | BJ.Doughty@tn.gov | |
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Nashville, TN 37243 |
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| 10:00 a.m. Central Time | Project Orange Teen Video Contest |
Contact: Julie Oaks |
| Statewide Winner Announcement |
615-714-9093 |
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| Halls High School | Julie.Oaks@tn.gov | |
| 800 W. Tigrett St. | ||
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Halls, TN 38040 |
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April 9 |
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| 8:30 a.m. Central Time | Between the Barrels Presentation | Contact: B.J. Doughty |
| Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Resort |
615-350-4302 |
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| Presidential Ballroom | BJ.Doughty@tn.gov | |
| 2800 Opryland Drive | ||
| Nashville, TN 37214 | ||