2008-04-07 23:41:46 -

- -0- WHO: Dale Bonner, Secretary, Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Will Kempton, Director, California Department of Transportation Alan Lowenthal, Chairperson, Senate Transportation and Housing Committee Pedro Nava, Member, Assembly Transportation Committee WHAT: A ceremony honoring 170 Caltrans employees who have died in the line of duty since 1924, including three who died in 2007. This event will also

kickoff "National Work Zone Awareness Week," marking the first time in history that the national event will take place outside of Washington, D.C. The Caltrans slogan, "Slow for the Cone Zone," is being adopted across the United States as this year's national campaign. Vehicle wreckage from an incident in March on Interstate 80 in the Sierra will be on display. A big rig struck a Caltrans maintenance truck, launching the bed of the truck 226 feet. The big rig driver died. Luckily, the Caltrans worker was wearing his seatbelt and survived. The ceremony will feature 170 orange safety cones arranged into a 45-foot wide caution sign to signify the sacrifice made by each fallen Caltrans worker, a ceremonial dove release and a 12-foot by 16-foot LED screen that will display photos of fallen workers across the nation. WHEN: 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2008 WHERE: West steps of the State Capitol

California Department of Transportation
Tamie McGowen, 916-657-5060