The Minnesota Department of Transportation will honor construction workers who have been killed while on the job with several events around the state Monday.
Since 1960, 33 MnDOT workers and 16 private contractors have been killed while working on state highways.
MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle will speak at MnDOT's headquarters at 9 a.m. Monday, 1500 W. County Road B2 in Roseville. Representatives from contractors, MnDOT and local unions will also speak at events in Rochester and Mankato.
Tonight, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis will be illumited in orange this evening in honor of workers on the job.
"The passing of these workers is a tragic reminder of the dangers men and women face while keeping Minnesota's roads safe for the driving public," said Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle. "It is important that we honor all workers who lost their lives on-the-job by using extra caution in work zones."
MnDOT offers these tips for drivers entering construction zones:
• Stay alert
• Watch for signs, equipment and workers
• Minimize distractions, such as using cell phones, eating or drinking
• Avoid tailgating
• Follow posted speed limits and directional signs
• Stay in one lane while driving through a work zone
