The National Work Zone Memorial has arrived in Kane County, and a ceremony to commemorate the lives of people who have died in work-zone accidents will take place at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday (June 20, 2017) in the auditorium of Building A at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva.

Eighteen names have been added to the National Work Zone Memorial this year, include that of Steve Chidester, the Kane County Division of Transportation road maintenance worker who lost his life when he was struck by a vehicle May 19 on Harter Road.

The traveling National Work Zone Memorial honors lives lost in work zones to help make fatalities “real” to policy makers and drivers. The memorial is a living tribute and travels to communities cross-country, year-round to raise public awareness of the need to respect and stay safe in America’s roadway work zones.

With a new design unveiled in February 2017, the memorial is highly sought. Kane County Division of Transportation officials have been working for months to bring the memorial to Kane County in June. Its arrival coincides with the popular Swedish Days festival in Geneva so that it will have the greatest chance to be seen.

The memorial honors those who died in work zones, including work zone workers, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement officers, public safety officials (i.e., firefighters and paramedics), and children. For information on the memorial or to learn how to submit a name for consideration, visit the National Work Zone Memorial website.