Spring 2025 Work Zone Safety Billboard Design Contest Winners Announced
Congratulations to Gavin M. from Ridgeview High School and Fatima H. from Nyssa High School for creating the two winning designs for the spring Work Zone Safety Billboard Contest. ODOT partnered with Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon and Willamette Education Service District to give Oregon high school students the opportunity to design a billboard to promote safe driving awareness through work zones.
Work Zone Safety:
The near misses you don't hear about
YouTube video
Every day, hundreds of Oregonians put their lives on the line to maintain, repair, and protect our roads. Work zones are more than just construction sites - they include incident responders, state troopers, tow truck drivers, maintenance crews, flaggers, and cleanup teams working mere feet from fast-moving traffic.
Their safety is in your hands. A moment of distraction or speeding through a work zone can cost lives. Slow down. Stay alert. Drive like someone’s life depends on it -because it does.
What Does a Work Zone Look Like?
Work zones are not always large construction projects. They come in different forms, and you might not even realize you're driving through one.
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Construction Zones – Paving crews, bridge repairs, lane expansions
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Traffic Incidents – Emergency responders assisting stranded drivers
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Maintenance Work – Tree trimming, pothole repairs, sign replacements
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Towing Operations – Tow truck drivers helping disabled vehicles
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Traffic Control – Flaggers keeping work zones safe
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Cleanup Crews – Removing debris, roadside litter, and hazards
Oregon law requires drivers to move over or slow down for all roadside workers - including emergency responders, tow truck drivers, and maintenance crews.
Why Respecting Work Zones Matters
- Work zone crashes are preventable. Speeding, distractions, and impatience put lives at risk.
- Workers have little protection. A traffic cone or a sign will not stop a car.
- Fines double in work zones. Oregon law imposes increased penalties for traffic violations in work zones.
See Work Zone Safety in Action