CLEVELAND — Christian Nixon stands just feet away from high speed traffic as part of his job with the Ohio Department of Transportation.

What You Need To Know

  • There have been 53 crew strikes this year on Ohio highways after just 84 all of last year

  • ODOT has put Crash Impact Attenuators at work sites to help protect their workers
  • At a recent crash on I-90 the attenuator absorbed the impact and resulted in no injuries to ODOT crew members 

“We’re just trying to keep the berms clean, so no flying objects or debris hit any of the motorists," Nixon said. "Our main job is to keep everybody safe on the highways.” 

While workers like Nixon are concerned about the safety of others, their own safety has been at an increased risk. 

So far in Ohio this year, there have been 53 crew strikes after just 84 all of last year. Crash impact attenuators are designed to absorb some of the impact at those crash sites and protect ODOT workers and their equipment.

“We recently had a crash on I-90 that happened, the attenuator played a big part in protecting us during our street sweeping project," Nixon said. "There were no huge injuries the attenuator took all of the impact.” 

Public Infromation Officer for ODOT District 12 Brent Kovacs explains that ODOT brings them in on the back of trucks and places them in work zones. 

“The impact attenuator is going to be right behind where people are working," Kovacs said. "Unfortunately, in Cuyahoga County this year they get struck pretty often. It’s basically the last protection to make sure our property and our people stay safe.” 

While the attenuators are crucial in keeping workers safe and limiting the risk of serious injury, both Kovacs and Nixon hope they don’t need them; and ask drivers to pay attention by driving cautiously in construction work zones. 

“We’re getting to the beginning of construction maintenance season, We’re going to be on the roads quite a bit," Kovacs said. "Please drive the speed limit, move over next to a lane, put down your cell phone. We just need your help to make this a safe construction season for everyone.” 

“It’s very important that everyone’s eyes are on our vehicles," Nixon said. "We have our flashing lights and our strobes and arrows set. That’s what it’s for, to protect us. We’re going to do our part, we ask that motorists do theirs because again our main goal is to keep everyone safe.”