SCHAUMBURG – Transportation officials honored an Illinois Department of Transportation worker killed on the job in Woodstock.
The family of Ryan Nichols also gathered at IDOT’s Region 1 headquarters in Schaumburg this week to unveil the National Work Zone Memorial Wall, a touring tribute to those killed in work zones.
Nichols, 34, was killed one year ago this week when a driver struck him on Route 14, just west of Route 47.
He was working as a
Bureau of Construction inspector as a summer resurfacing project was wrapping up.
The Kenosha, Wis., man left behind a wife and three young children.
“His passing made a deep impact on his co-workers,” IDOT spokesman Josh Kauffman said in a news release.
Nichols was one of two IDOT workers killed last year, and one of 24 who died in work zones in Illinois, including drivers, passengers and one pedestrian.
Three IDOT workers have been killed in work zones this construction season, Kauffman said.
“This is unacceptable,” he said. “The National Work Zone Memorial honors those individuals but also brings an increased awareness to work-zone safety and the impact is has across the state.”
Nichols had worked with IDOT since 2002 and had been with the Bureau of Construction since 2005. His job primarily involved inspecting work sites.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Nichols was cited for failure to use due care.
Created by the American Traffic Safety Services Association, the National Work Zone Memorial Wall debuted in 2002 to honor the memory of those who have died in work zones across the nation.
The memorial travels to communities to raise public awareness of safety in work zones.
The wall will be on display at the Schaumburg headquarters through today.
Earlier this month, IDOT launched “Embrace the Orange,” a website that encourages drivers to sign a work-zone safety pledge, and reminds the public that it is illegal to talk on a cellphone or use any hand-held device while driving through work zones.
Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider and Illinois State Police and The American Safety Service Association attended a news conference Wednesday to unveil the memorial.