Smithers receives work zone sign package
Oct. 12—smithers — City street department workers have some new equipment to enable them to get through their work day a little more safely.
The City of Smithers applied for and was recently awarded a work zone sign package valued at $3,050 by the West Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program (WV LTAP). Smithers was one of 10 municipalities awarded the package, which will be utilized to improve work zone safety during road maintenance, utility operations and incident management, according to a press release.
Smithers was chosen as one of the recipients because of its demonstrated need of work zone traffic control devices and commitment to work zone safety, said the WV LTAP. The work zone sign package program is one of the many services offered by the WV LTAP to improve roadway safety across the state.
Each package includes 12 portable work zone signs, six sign stands, four barricades, four drums with reflective tape, 16 cones, two reflective "Stop/Slow" paddles, four Class III full-coverage safety vests and two whistles with lanyards. In addition to the package, each municipality receives a free, work zone safety training course taught by the WV LTAP.
"The WV LTAP staff recognize how important these work zone sign packages are to West Virginia communities," WV LTAP program coordinator Andrew Morgan said in a press release. "Both the equipment and the training that goes along with the packages helps enhance safety for both motorists and workers and facilitate traffic flow in these communities."
The goal of the program is to help West Virginia municipalities make their work zones safer for motorists and roadway workers. Including this year's group of recipients, the WV LTAP has awarded 106 work zone sign packages to state municipalities since the program began in 1996.
Count Frank Hill, the Smithers street department supervisor, as among those who appreciate the new safety equipment included in the package.
Hill said Tuesday morning the equipment will "drastically" improve safety for him and his crew as the city still recovers from last year's flooding. "We lost a lot of them (safety signage and equipment) to the flood, and some of them washed in that weren't even ours.
"We have a lot of times when we're working on a street and need something to close it with, and we've got work going on in town (and the new items will be a boost). ... We've got plenty of small cones; like if we do curb painting we can block off the curbs."
Hill said the fresher equipment may cause the driving public to pay a little more attention as they're maneuvering through a work area. "Safety's the number one key for the guys. When they're out doing stuff, it's a plus to get everybody to pay attention. They see this orange, they pay attention because they don't want to get anybody run over."
While department members have escaped any injuries in potential scenarios involving inattentive drivers in recent years, Hill says, "We have had some close calls with some texting and driving."
"It's a big bonus for the small town of Smithers," Hill said of the work zone package. "We really needed this."
The WV LTAP is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Department of Transportation and is housed at West Virginia University. The organization serves the state by providing training, demonstrations, personalized technical assistance, resource materials and other services to individuals and agencies responsible for managing and maintaining West Virginia's roadways.
To obtain additional information on the center's services, contact Kim Carr at 304-293-9924.
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