The purpose of this web page is
to tell you a little about what I do for a living and I also want to
hopefully educate you a little about Work Zone Safety. I am a Project
Manager for the Ballenger Paving Division of
one of the country's largest heavy highway contractors APAC Inc. a subsidiary of Ashland Inc.. Check out an article about
our award winning Atlanta Airport Project in Gomaco
World Magazine. If you see me
out on the highway or at an airport working somewhere feel free to honk and
wave! Just be careful DO NOT, I repeat DO
NOT run
over my ass! This page
is dedicated to the memory of Perry Capers, Floyd Patterson, and Gerald
Wilson. They really were good men.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE WORK ZONE III
Did you
know? According to
the U.S. Department of Labor the most dangerous occupation in America is not a
being a Policeman, or even a Fireman, it is being a Highway Construction
Laborer.
Did you
know? That of all
the people killed in Highway Work Zone accidents over 80% are the Drivers
themselves and NOT the Workers. That
means YOU!
Did you
know? Many States now have laws that can double, or even triple the
normal fines for speeding in a work zone.
Some States can and will revoke your drivers license. Here in South Carolina you can pay $300 plus
the original fine and will be sentenced to JAIL TIME. Is it sinking in yet?
Let’s hope so. Slow down Please.
“Bad boy, bad boy, what ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when they come
for you?
All kidding aside, this is serious stuff here. Work
Zones are very dangerous places. Many times I have been there on the side
of the road when families were shattered. Kids no longer had a
mother or father. Parents lost their children. Peoples lives were
changed instantly. Accidents can and do happen. That’s why they are
called accidents. All I ask is that you think a little. Slow down
some when you see the orange warning signs. Do what the signs say to do.
Do it when they say to do it. Pay a little bit closer attention to the
road. Hopefully we will both get home to see our kids tonight.
A cute trinket I got to hang on my wall from my
participation in the record breaking 33 ½ day project, removing and
reconstructing Runway 9R/27L at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. Gomaco
World Magazine
Photos of Madison County North Carolina, US 23 – Future I-26 near Mars Hill, NC
This project is approx. 48 lane miles through the
NC mountains. The majority of it is
at a 6% grade.
The arrow above shows where the pictures to the right and below were taken. The large clearing towards the bottom of the Arial photo is our Plant Site and Stockpile area. There were roughly 110,000 Cubic Yards of concrete produced by a modified 1969 Rex Model S portable plant used to pave approx. 350,000 Square Yards.
© January 2003
Warren Baker
Last revised: January 3, 2003