Images capture NWZAW efforts from individuals to public officials working to save lives

Messages across the nation encourage everyone to do their part for work zone safety

Leslie Fonzi-Lynch, mother of Brandyn Spychalski, spoke at the NWZAW national kickoff about the loss of her son as a result of a work zone incident in Michigan.

Across the country, individuals, ATSSA members, public officials, government agencies, major corporations and at least one university pitched in for National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) to spread the word about the importance of safety in and around roadway work zones.

This year’s NWZAW theme was: Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives. People took a personal approach, used statistics, employed billboards, aired videos and posted to social media all in an effort to heighten awareness of the risks to motorists, their passengers and workers in roadway work zones. Here are some of the images from efforts across the country for this annual public awareness campaign. Additional photos provided by ATSSA's staff and members are available here.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, above, opened the national kickoff event for National Work Zone Awareness Week with a recorded message. Acting Administrator Stephanie Pollack of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) also provided a recorded message for the event at which several Michigan officials spoke. A recording of the kickoff event hosted by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is available for viewing.  

An event in Illinois.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke at the national kickoff event held in Clinton Township, Mich.

FHWA Acting Administrator Stephanie Pollack encouraged drivers to be alert for work zones and to take part in Go Orange Day.

Michigan DOT Director Paul C. Ajegba also spoke at the national kickoff event on Tuesday and read the names of workers killed in his state in 2020.

Stephanie Boileau, a Chippewa County Road Commission highway engineer and president of the Michigan ATSSA Chapter, spoke at the national kickoff event, encouraging policymakers to include input from people in the roadway safety infrastructure industry.