RICHMOND, Va – The Virginia Department of Transportation will observe National Work Zone Awareness Week Monday to Friday, April 17 – 21, to honor employees and contractors who risk their lives to keep Virginia moving every day.

All week long V-DOT will alert drivers to the potential dangers of highway work zones, which claimed 22 lives across Virginia last year. Nationwide, more than 80% of those who die in work zone crashes are motorists or passengers.

The 2023 theme is “Work with Us,” a reminder that highway workers and motorists all play a key role in work zone safety.

“The men and women working on our roadways have the same goal as drivers – to get home safely at the end of the day. That requires a partnership,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller. “V-DOT strives to clearly mark its work zones and make sure motorists can navigate them safely. Drivers have a responsibility to slow down and completely focus on the roadway.”

“Every spring, drivers see more construction and maintenance on Virginia’s roads and bridges,” said V-DOT Commissioner Stephen Brich. “Work zones can have changing traffic patterns, slow-moving heavy equipment and visual distractions. We ask the traveling public to work with us for their own safety and ours.”

V-DOT’s employees and contractors are committed to work zone safety. Virginia has led the way to raise awareness of the challenges that workers and drivers encounter in work zones. 

V-DOT continues working with other state transportation departments, federal government agencies, national road safety organizations, private companies and industry leaders to educate travelers on work zone safety.

Join V-DOTY in observing National Work Zone Awareness Week:

  • Monday, April 17: NWZAW Kick-off day. Start a conversation about safety.
  • Wednesday, April 19: Go Orange Day and statewide NWZAW observance. Wear orange and share your support of work zone safety by posting pictures on your social media accounts with #GoOrangeDayVA. Wednesday evening, VDOT and its partners will gather at the VDOT Workers’ Memorial on Afton Mountain to honor those who lost their lives in work zone incidents.
  • Friday, April 21: A statewide moment of silence at 10 a.m. to remember workers killed in service to the Commonwealth.