Born almost a year ago at a construction site on Interstate 95 in Old Lyme, and blessed to have a glowing personality thanks to his reflective DNA, Work Zone Wally reminds folks that “being safe is the name of the game”.
Standing eleven feet tall and made from recycled barrels, cones, and tires by a group of guys from Tilcon Connecticut on April 24, 2012, Wally said he “was immediately adapted by the Connecticut Work Zone Safety Awareness Working Group as their mascot and they didn’t waste any time putting me to work. My first appearance was at the Annual Connecticut Work Zone Safety Press Conference on April 24, 2012, where I got to meet some pretty special kids who made posters to spread our safety message.”
Since he is new to the role of mascot, he gets advice from his friend in Missouri, Barrel Bob.
Wally also attended a barbeque fundraiser on August 4, 2012, to raise money for the Daniel DiNardi Children’s Fund. “Dan was a dedicated worker who was tragically killed on March 22, 2012 while working on the highway,” Wally said, adding that “Dan is not only a friend to many of us at the Connecticut DOT but most importantly he is a Dad.”
Wally has been to other places as well including the “Transportation Investments Create Opportunities” Career Fair in North Haven, Construction Pro Rodeo in Durham, and the Eastern States Exposition “The Big E” in West Springfield, Mass. “I won’t say it has been a joy ride all the time going to and from these places. I have gone by truck, van, and car which to be quite honest is a bit unnerving since I’m not altogether during my travels, literally!” Wally explained, adding “I feel real lucky to have a job where I can so what I truly love and be a spokesman for work zone safety”.
So, what does Wally hope to accomplish? “My mission is to be the voice of the worker and make sure all motorists are in tune to the hazards we face each and every day,” Wally said.
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proclaimed April 15 to 19, 2013, National Work Zone Awareness Week in Connecticut “In work zones are a place where men and women share their workplace with cars, trucks, buses, and even trains and planes. The key is to identify the State’s safety needs and implement changes to achieve reductions in highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. The number of injury crashes in work zones has dropped 50 percent from 341 in 2001 to 170 in 2011 and is a testament to the efforts of our work zone safety partners at the national, state, and local levels.”
This year, the motto for National Work Zone Awareness Week is “We’re All in This Together”. Wally reminds road users to “Obey the Orange”, the black and orange signs that give motorists warning of work ahead, directions, and road conditions. He advises drivers to pay attention to those signs and slow down.
