MoDOT marks work season start with Operation Orange

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation will herald the upcoming construction season with a its annual Operation Orange: To Make Work Zones Safe awareness program.

In addition to the usual cones and barrels seen as MoDOT is working on the roads, buildings, landmarks and businesses across the state will use orange lights to remind drivers to slow down while moving through work zones.

A kickoff ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. today will honor men and women who serve the public in work zones and remember those who have lost their lives there. The public ceremony will be held at the Glenn Convocation Center at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. MoDOT workers, along with area city and county workers have been invited to attend the ceremony.

MoDOT District Engineer Mark Shelton is among the scheduled speakers, which include Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson, Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Lt. Jim McNiell and MoDOT maintenance superintendent Randy Richardet.

"There is nothing more important to us than making sure that people get safely through our work zones as we improve their travel and that our employees get safely home after a job well done," Shelton said.

Look for orange lighting on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, Jackson City Hall, the New Madrid Welcome Center in New Madrid, Mo., Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E office in Sikeston, Mo., four Sikeston Department of Public Safety buildings, the Poplar Bluff, Mo., Chamber of Commerce, the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission in Dexter, Mo., Farmington, Mo.'s water tower and MoDOT's district office in Sikeston.

Operation Orange will continue through Friday.

A complete listing of Operation Orange participating locations statewide is available on MoDOT's website at www.modot.org/operationorange. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636.