Prairie State Wire

Bridges and buildings across Illinois are being illuminated in orange as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week. This initiative is aimed at honoring those who have lost their lives in work zones, marking the beginning of another construction season in the state. Governor JB Pritzker has declared April 17-21 as "Work Zone Safety Awareness Week" in Illinois.

"The color orange has come to symbolize that everyone, from the workers in the field on down to the traveling public, can play a role in eliminating work zone crashes and fatalities," stated Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. He expressed gratitude towards all partners striving to ensure this is the safest construction season yet.

Several landmarks participating by turning their lights orange include BOMA/Chicago's Illuminate Chicago program, which encompasses over 200 buildings such as Willis Tower. Other participants are Peoria's Murray Baker Bridge, Rockford's Morgan Street Bridge and City Hall, Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront, and Rock Island's Centennial Street Bridge.

The state experiences nearly 6,000 work zone crashes annually, leading to over 1,500 injuries and almost 29 deaths. Notably, more than nine out of ten fatalities involve individuals other than workers—drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

For further details on work zone safety efforts in Illinois, visit IDOT's Work Zone page.