MnDOT honors fallen transportation workers during Worker Memorial Day

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation honors the men and women who have been killed or injured while working on state roadways during Worker Memorial Day on Thursday, April 28.

Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed April 28, 2022, as Worker Memorial Day in Minnesota in recognition of the high price transportation workers have paid in the construction and maintenance of Minnesota’s transportation system. On April 28, the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis will be lit orange to honor those highway workers who have died while working in work zones.

Since 1960, 35 MnDOT workers and 16 contractors have lost their lives while working on Minnesota highways.

“Every day, road workers across the state put themselves on the line to keep Minnesota’s roads safe for everyone,” said Nancy Daubenberger, MnDOT interim commissioner. “Those workers – and everyone traveling through work zones – deserve to get home safely. Please, slow down and avoid distractions in work zones to help keep our workers—and yourself—safe.”

MnDOT reminds Minnesotans that motorists and passengers are involved in the majority of work zone deaths and injuries and the agency urges all drivers to follow these recommendations in work zones:

• Drive the speed limit. It helps create a consistent, more predictable traffic flow for everyone.

• Don’t drive distracted. Drivers need to be alert especially in work zones, which constantly change due to lane shifts, closures and moving workers and vehicles.

• Move over to give workers room to safely complete their work.

• Avoid unnecessary lane changes.

• Be patient; expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

Visit MnDOT’s Transportation Worker Memorial website to see the list of fallen workers in Minnesota and the worker memorial at MnDOT headquarters.