The Missouri Department of Transportation is taking every precaution
to make sure you don't see red when you encounter a highway work zone
this construction season. Instead the agency is hoping you'll see
orange and lots of it.

Through its Operation Orange initiative,
MoDOT uses the warning color to raise awareness for work zone safety
and to reduce crashes and fatalities in highway work zones. 

Last
year, more than 90 significant landmarks throughout the state went
orange during Work Zone Awareness Week, including the St. Louis Zoo,
Unity Village in Lee's Summit, the Boone County Courthouse, the Shelter
Insurance Gardens in Columbia, Hammonds Field in Springfield, the Bill
Emerson Memorial Bridge in Cape Girardeau, the Farm Bureau headquarters
in Jefferson City and the Branson Landing.  Photos of last year's
participants can be found at www.modot.org/operationorange.

This
year, National Work Zone Awareness Week will be celebrated April 19-23,
and MoDOT is inviting facilities, businesses and organizations
throughout the state to take part in Operation Orange.  Interested
participants can either sport orange or post signs or messages urging
motorists to drive safely in work zones. 

For more information or to join Operation Orange 2010, visit www.modot.org/operationorange.