The Michigan Department of Transportation is taking a solemn moment to remember those lost in work zone crashes by hosting the National Work Zone-National Work Zone Memorial at the Clare Welcome Center over the Fourth of July weekend. CBS News Detroit reported that the memorial, which honors over 1,600 individuals whose lives were lost—including road workers, motorists, and children—will stand at the welcome center to raise awareness about the importance of safety in work zones.

While the scenic roads of Michigan are braced for nearly 2.6 million travelers according to AAA, MDOT is reminding everyone to drive safely through the augmenting number of orange barrels and road work—a consequence of much-needed infrastructure investments. The busy summer season sees an increase in work zone activity, and despite these necessary improvements, there's a human cost captured in the rising tallies of accidents. As stated by Michigan's Department of Transportation, the preliminary figures from 2023 show that work zone crashes in the state resulted in 20 fatalities, 1,896 injuries, and an overall count of nearly 7,237 crashes.

The memorial, unveiled by the American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation in 2002, has been traveling the United States to promote safe driving within work zones. Spanning 20 feet in width and reaching a height of 7 feet, the memorial provides a stark reminder of the names and lives behind the statistics. MDOT has underscored that safety is a shared responsibility—a notion that will hopefully resonate with the thousands expected to drive through these work zones during the holiday period.

In an effort to make the message accessible to all, a new virtual counterpart of the monument is available at no charge. The physical memorial can be viewed from June 27 through July 7, with expenses for its display covered by the American Traffic Safety Services Association's Michigan Chapter.