National Work Zone Memorial returning to Clare Welcome Center during July 4 holiday

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For the second year in a row, the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Clare Welcome Center will host the National Work Zone Memorial over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. This special memorial honors the more than 1,600 lives of road workers, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement, public safety officials, and children who have been killed in work zone crashes throughout the United States.

Millions of Michigan drivers are expected to get behind the wheel this summer, with July 4 being one of the busiest travel periods. As traffic volumes increase on Michigan roads, MDOT wants to remind all road users to slow down and drive safely, especially when approaching work zones.

Work zone safety remains a top priority for MDOT, and not just for workers but also for the road users who travel through work zones. Preliminary numbers indicate that in 2022, Michigan work zones had 16 fatalities, 862 injuries, and nearly 4,400 total crashes. Nationwide, the number of work zone fatalities is estimated at more than 950.

Unveiled in 2002 by the American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation, the National Work Zone Memorial is a living tribute to the memory of the lives lost in work zones. As the memorial travels throughout the United States, it raises awareness for work zone safety and safe driving practices by displaying the names of those killed in work zone crashes. The memorial is 20 feet wide and stands 7 feet tall and is available to anyone interested in increasing work zone safety awareness. A new virtual memorial is also available to use at no cost.

Costs for hosting the memorial June 28-July 10 at the Clare Welcome Center are sponsored by MDOT and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).