TxDOT Crews Reach Safety Milestone
Four Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews have achieved a milestone that few highway agencies can claim: more than 7,000 consecutive days without a workplace injury.
The crews, located in Stonewall, Cass, San Augustine and Uvalde counties, were recently recognized by state transportation officials for maintaining injury-free records that span nearly two decades.
Among TxDOT's 265 maintenance sections statewide, only four have surpassed the 7,000-day mark.
Texas Transportation Commission Acting Chair Alvin New recognized this impressive record of TxDOT maintenance crews by paying each of them a visit.
“Safety is job number one at TxDOT,” New said in a press release. “Going more than 7,000 consecutive days without an injury is an extraordinary achievement, and it doesn’t happen by chance.”
The recognition highlights the often-overlooked work of maintenance personnel, whose responsibilities range from traffic control and pothole repairs to ditch reconstruction and sign installation. Those tasks routinely place workers in active traffic environments and expose them to risks such as vehicle strikes, equipment-related injuries and repetitive-motion strains.
“We are very proud of these crews” said TxDOT Occupational Safety Director Sam Salazar. “Their records reflect decades of employees looking out for one another and doing the job the right way, every single day.”
Agency officials attributed the long-term safety records to consistent training, adherence to safety protocols, use of personal protective equipment and strong communication among crew members. Maintenance supervisors said a culture of accountability and looking out for coworkers has been essential to sustaining the injury-free streaks over such an extended period.
WVDOT Fulfilled Governor Morrisey’s Pothole Promise
The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) says it has completed a statewide effort to repair all reported potholes by a June 1 target established earlier this spring by Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
The initiative prompted highway crews and contractors across the state to accelerate repairs during the peak pothole season, according to a report by WOWK 13 News. Transportation officials said workers logged additional hours and continued repairs through weekends to address outstanding reports before the deadline.
“We’re doing our best to get every pothole paid by the end of May… I’m going to hold the secretary and the whole department accountable for that. And, I’m going to be accountable,” Morrisey announced at an April 28 press conference, encouraging West Virginians to report potholes in their areas.
State transportation leaders noted that June 1 has long served as an unofficial benchmark for completing the bulk of annual pothole-patching operations, though this year's effort received heightened attention following the governor's public commitment to the goal.
“Through some inclement weather and a little extra work over the weekend, we have completed that,” WV Department of Transportation Executive Director of Communications Brent Walker told WOWK 13 News.
The campaign also underscored the importance of public reporting systems, which agencies increasingly rely upon to identify roadway defects and prioritize maintenance resources.
MDOT Holds Star-Spangled Sign Contest to Celebrate America 250
As preparations begin for the nation's 250th birthday celebration, the Mississippi Department of Transportation is asking residents to help promote safe holiday travel through a new digital-message-sign contest.
“We’re excited to celebrate America 250 while reminding travelers that safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White in a press release. “Driver safety, especially during holiday travel, remains MDOT’s highest priority. This is a fun opportunity for Mississippians to share their patriotic spirit and help maximize safe-driving conditions.”
The initiative encourages the public to submit patriotic traffic-safety messages that could appear on electronic highway signs during the Independence Day travel period in 2026. The campaign is part of broader America 250 commemorations planned across the country.
Sources: TxDOT, WOWK 13 News, MDOT
About the Author
Gavin Jenkins, Head of Content
Head of Content
Gavin Jenkins is an award-winning journalist based in Pittsburgh. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, VICE, Narrative.ly, Prevention, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Beijing Review.
In 2020, two stories he wrote for Pitt Med Magazine earned three Golden Quill Awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania. “Surviving Survival” won Excellence in Corporate, Marketing and Promotional Communications – Written, Medical/Health, while “Oct. 27, 2018: Pittsburgh’s Darkest Day, and the Mass Casualty Response” won Excellence in Written Journalism, Magazines – Medical/Health, as well as the Ray Sprigle Memorial Award: Magazines, a Best in Show award.
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2003, he covered sports for the Bedford Gazette, in Bedford, Pa., and the Martinsville Bulletin, in Martinsville, Va. In 2006, he returned to Pittsburgh to write for Trib Total Media. Based out of the Kittanning Leader Times, he worked for the Trib for two years, and then he moved to Shenzhen, China, to teach English and freelance. After two years in China, he earned an MFA in nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh.
When he's not at work, he's usually playing with his border-collie mix, Bob.