The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is launching National Work Zone Awareness Week starting Monday, promoting the theme “Respect the zone so we all get home.” The campaign encourages drivers to stay alert in construction areas to help protect both road workers and fellow drivers. According to an North Carolina Department of Transportation press release, the department will officially begin the national event with a press conference Tuesday next week at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. The event will also be livestreamed on NCDOT’s social media platforms. Throughout the week, NCDOT will share safety tips, stories, and updates online.
In related news, the bridge on N.C. 73 over Long Creek at Long Lake in Albemarle has been officially named the Patrolman Paul Smith Bridge. The dedication honors Patrolman Smith, a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and North Carolina Highway Patrol officer who died in a patrol car crash in 1948. The naming was approved by the N.C. Board of Transportation in September.
NCDOT’s Ferry Division also continues to recruit new employees ahead of the busy summer season. Since January, hiring events have been held in multiple locations including Ocracoke, Washington, Southport, Manteo, Hatteras, and Morehead City. These efforts have resulted in 18 new hires. The division is still looking for additional staff, including shipyard workers, vessel crew, and terminal employees.
