MoDOT hosts 12th annual Day of Remembrance ceremony

The Jefferson City event featured employees and families of fallen workers

Today, Sept. 19, was MoDOT’s 12th annual Day of Remembrance event. Employees and family members of the department's fallen workers met together at MoDOT’s Fallen Worker Memorial to honor the 139 employees who gave their lives in service to the citizens of Missouri.

Speakers included Interim MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger, Chief Administrative Officer Lester Woods and Chief Safety & Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth, among others.

Employee representatives from MoDOT's seven districts and the Central Office read the names of each fallen worker in their district. The ceremony ended with a moment of silence in their names, as well as a further commitment to work safely every day so no other name is added to the memorial.

View the full livestreamed event on MoDOT's social media.

Better be sure - the right car seat saves lives

Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week is Sept. 15-21, with National Seat Check Day on Sept. 21. Missouri law requires all children under the age of 8 to be in a child safety or booster seat until they are 80 pounds or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Many parents are unaware of the law or the importance of proper use and installation of child passenger safety restraints. Learn more.

A tall repair order calls for a high-flying solution

MoDOT’s Signal and Lighting crew in St. Louis had a problem with a 150-foot malfunctioning light tower at the I-270 and I-170 interchange. MoDOT's Lighting and Locate Supervisor Brian Ducote hired St. Louis-based REM Technologies to fly a drone up and attach a pull rope to the tower ring, allowing the team to bring it down for new bulb installation. View the video here.

MHTC begins search for new MoDOT director

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has opened its search for a new MoDOT director to replace Patrick McKenna. MoDOT Deputy Director Ed Hassinger has been named interim director. Applications for the director position will be received through 5 p.m. on Sept. 27. The Commission intends to have a new director in place by the end of the year.

Highway Safety Spotlight: Ignition Interlock Program

MoDOT’s Highway Safety Division partnered with the Missouri Safety Center and Department of Revenue to coordinate Missouri's Ignition Interlock Program. This involves installing a breath alcohol ignition interlock device in a vehicle which prevents it from working if the driver registers a breath alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds the set limit. Learn more.