Trophy Case
Announcing 2017 Highway Safety Poster Contest winners
By Caroline Moreno
Headquarters Events and Awards Coordinator
Each year, Caltrans holds its annual Highway Safety Poster Contest. The contest is open to children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of Caltrans employees, and it gives the children an opportunity to express the importance of driving safely in or near highway work zones. It also allows them to be part of Caltrans’ educational outreach and life-saving message.
The contest was open to children 17 years old or younger, and judges selected posters based on creativity, how well the poster conveyed the highway safety theme, and the use of color.
The winning posters appeared in the Annual Workers Memorial program and were on display at the ceremony. Although the posters differ greatly in appearance, they all convey one of these important messages, "Be Work Zone Alert" or "Move Over."
Grand Prize Winner
Maycie McCloud is the 12-year-old daughter of Roah McCloud, District 3 Transportation Engineering Technician.
Two of her favorite things are the ocean and ice cream. In her free time, she enjoys painting, swimming, playing volleyball, and going to the theater.
The “Be Work Zone Alert” message is especially important and personal for Maycie because her grandfather was killed while flagging on a project. Her dad works on the highway sometimes, and she doesn’t want to lose him, too.
14- to 17-year-olds
Katelyn Bermudez is a 17-year-old senior at Lemoore High School.
She enjoys reading, writing, watercolor painting and playing with her dogs. After hearing the stories from her father Hector Bermudez, District 6 Safety Specialist, Katelyn has come to realize how important it is for people to pay attention when encountering workers on the roadway.
11- to 13-year-olds
Sofia Lujan is a 13-year-old eighth-grader who gets good grades and is especially good at math.
She likes Star Wars, Hamilton and ice cream. Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, painting and coloring – especially coloring design books. Her mom, District 11 Associate Governmental Program Analyst Delane Hurley, wants her to become an engineer, but Sofia hasn’t decided yet.
Sofia wants to encourage people to be safer and slow down so Caltrans doesn’t lose its employees working on the highways. She hopes this poster will help people to think about being good drivers.
7- to 10-year-olds
Yvette Chadergian’s dad Gerard Chadergian, is a District 11 Senior Transportation Engineer who works in the Traffic Management Center.
The 10-year-old is fascinated with art and the human body, memorizing all the bones in the body by age 3. Yvette likes horses, enjoys drawing cartoons, and learning how to cook. She also sings, along with her grandma, in her Armenian Church Choir, which is directed by her grandfather.
This message is important to her because she wants her dad to come home safe each day so he can tuck her into bed.
Ages 6 and younger
Zoey Grah is the energetic 6-year-old daughter of Kathy Grah, District 2 Senior Transportation Planner.
She loves coloring, riding bikes and gymnastics almost as much as she adores her older brother Xander. Zoey says “move over so you don’t hit a person.”
To view the winning and honorable mention posters, click on the following link: http://beworkzonealert.com/poster-winners.html
Raising the bar — and the freeway
American Society of Civil Engineers’ Sacramento Section awarded their 2016 Outstanding Roadway and Highway Project to Caltrans’ Raise 80 project. Higher vertical clearance improves commerce and national security access on Interstate 80 (I-80) through the Sierra.
The Caltrans Vertical Clearance project, nicknamed “Raise 80,” increased the vertical clearance of nine structures that cross I-80 in Placer County. The overcrossings extend from the Brace Road overcrossing in Loomis to the Magra Road overcrossing east of Colfax and includes eight vehicle bridges and one railroad trestle.
The vertical clearance of these structures was raised to 16-feet 6-inches to meet federal standards that improve access on I-80 through the Sierra. Seven structures were raised using a complex system of jacks and reconstruction, and the roadway under the two other structures was excavated down to achieve the required clearance.
In addition to new paving and striping on the lifted overcrossings and adjacent roadway, the project also included new bridge railings – including some with decorative motifs, sidewalk replacement, new bridge barrier fencing – including bicycle barrier fencing on three of the more heavily traveled bridges – Horseshoe Bar Road, Gilardi Road and Penryn Road, landscaping at Horseshoe Bar Road, drainage/erosion control, and new metal beam guardrail in selected locations.