Kevin Olinger Transit Bureau Chief at New Mexico Department of Transportation | Official Website
Kevin Olinger Transit Bureau Chief at New Mexico Department of Transportation | Official Website
Next Monday marks the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), an event highlighting the importance of roadway work zone safety as construction activities increase with the warmer weather. The theme this year is “Respect the zone so we all get home,” emphasizing the need for drivers to be vigilant in work zones to protect both motorists and workers.
Go Orange Day, part of NWZAW, will be observed on Wednesday, April 23, with supporters encouraged to wear orange to honor those maintaining the roads and to acknowledge families affected by work zone accidents. A moment of silence will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025.
Across New Mexico, message boards will display safety week alerts, and several NMDOT offices will feature remembrance cones in their lobbies to honor workers who have lost their lives. The National Work Zone Memorial includes several New Mexicans: David Eggert, Chris Marquez, MittieRunyan, Anthony Rivera, and Ernesto Perea.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System indicated 891 fatalities in work zones in 2022, including 742 drivers and passengers. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 94 highway worker fatalities at road construction sites that year.
For more information, visit the NMDOT Workzone Safety Page.
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