Bristol District Newsletter - September/October 2023

Sept.—Oct. 2023
Bland
Buchanan
Dickenson
Grayson
Lee
Russell
Sco
Smyth
Tazewell
Washington
Wise
Wythe
Employees parcipate in Employee Engagement service opportunity (page 5)
On The Road
A newsleer for and about the employees of the Bristol District
VDOT Drivers: What you need to know
What is VDOT DRIVERS? DRIVERS is a way we will
operate to engage VDOT employees at every level
and locaon to innovate, empower, and adapt in
alignment with our mission and values.
DRIVERS expands on the work previously done
through the VDOT of Tomorrow program. DRIVERS
will also be the primary enabler of our new
Business Plan’s workforce goals.
VDOT, like many other state transportaon
agencies, is operang in an environment where our
responsibilies have increased and our need for
innovave soluons, efficiencies, and
adaptability is more important than ever. While the
VDOT of Tomorrow was very successful, we are in
need of a more inclusive, expanded program that
engages employees at all levels and locaons and is
further aligned and integrated with our Business
Plan and organizaonal Mission and Values. It’s not
just about preparing for tomorrow—it’s how we
improve today.
The desired outcomes of DRIVERS include
empowering employees at all levels and locaons
to bring forward their best ideas, implemenng
employee soluons that further improve
operaonal efficiency and excellence, and
enabling employees to be agile and resilient
despite change, challenges, obstacles, and
disrupons.
The VDOT Accelerator Network (VAN), has
reconvened to support the ongoing development
of DRIVERS iniaves and to re‐establish a formal
employee feedback network. Bristol’s new VAN
roster includes: Michelle Earl, Chris Jackson, Kevin
Lawson, Allison Miller, Joey Mullins, Tim Ray, Pam
Stanley and Aleia Warren.
For more informaon and updates, visit the VDOT
DRIVERS site on DOTi under “Quick Links.”

Second VDOT Touch a Truck event held October 14
VDOT’s Bristol District and other state and local
agencies held their second “Touch a Truck”
event October 14 at Highlands Fellowship
Church in Bristol.
Thanks to Operaons’ Incident Management
Coordinator Rusty Bevan for organizing the
event.
Approximately 350 people aended the event.
Touch a Truck gives emergency service
organizaons the opportunity to talk with the
public about safety, and to remind them of the
state law requiring motorists to slow down or
move over when they see emergency vehicles
with blue or amber lights working along the
highway.
It also provides the opportunity for children to
get an up‐close look at some of the vehicles
VDOT uses daily to perform maintenance work,
in addion to vehicles such as fire trucks, an
ambulance and other emergency response
vehicles.
Crews prep for snow season with annual dry run events in October
Each fall, VDOT’s fleet gets a once over before the
winter season. “Dry Run” events are held to
ensure VDOT’s equipment is in good working
order before snow season.
Thanks to everyone for their efforts to get VDOT
Bristol ready for snow season.
Equipment at each area headquarters is evaluated
by teams from Bristol’s Equipment Division. They
check everything on the vehicles from the horn to
the res to the plow aachments.
This year, Fort Blackmore was the highest scoring
area headquarters with a rang of 99.16%. The
Wytheville Residency had the overall highest
average score at 99%.
Overall, we’re seeing significant Improvements in
the maintenance and cleanliness of our
equipment, which is vital to increasing the
equipment’s reliability, minimizing breakdowns
and repair costs to maximize service life,” said
ADA for Maintenance Jeff Russell.
(Le
2
Bristol District: On The Road

Trucks for Cancer: Wytheville team honors loved ones
Wytheville AHQs Joe Cox and Zack Johnson along
with Baywood AHQs Tim Stone recently
parcipated in the “Trucks for Cancer” parade in
Grayson County.
The parade began in Galax and finished in
Independence.
This is the fourth year Joe has parcipated.
“The event means a lot to the people along the
parade route who have lost a loved one to
cancer,” Joe said.
Joe sponsored a truck in memory of his late wife,
Tammy. Zack sponsored a truck in memory of
Roger Lineberry and Tim sponsored a truck in
memory of C.W. Jones.
The
Re-
Plum-
Safety Excellence Award Program: training iniaves announced
VDOT’s safety compeon, the FY 2024 Safety
Excellence Award Program (SEAP), is officially
underway. As the reigning cup holders, now is the
me to begin the work to keep the cup another
year.
The SEAP is designed to improve VDOT’s
commitment to safety and ensure a safe
workplace. Through your parcipaon, we can
connue to affirm and strengthen VDOT’s safety
culture.
To learn more about this year’s program and
discover new opportunies for promong and
encouraging safe pracces, visit the Safety
Excellence Award Program DOTi site.
Scoring
Points for this year’s safety campaign can be
earned through the following:
Compleng online safety training
Subming safety videos
Subming safety artwork
Conducng facility inspecons and audits.
Online Safety Training
To view and begin this year's training modules,
visit the VDOT‐U training website. Safety training
should be completed no later than June 30, 2024.
Safety Videos
Employees are encouraged to create engaging
safety training videos on Situaonal Awareness,
Office Safety Improvements, and Office and Field
Slips, Trips, and Falls to earn points. Employees
must submit their videos to their District Safety
Manager to be uploaded for the contest. Winning
videos will earn addional points for the district.
Deadline: May 31, 2024.
Safety Artwork
Districts and Central Office employees created and
submied artwork for the 2024 Safety Calendar
using idenfied themes which closed on Sept. 15,
2023, with outstanding parcipaon ‐‐ more than
450 submissions were received!
Next, the cover and calendar theme winners will
be selected which will gain addional points
toward Lane this Farm year’s SEAP award.
Facility Inspecons and Audits
Districts can also earn points by conducng facility
inspecons. Facility inspecons should be
completed by your District Safety Manager and
should be completed no later than April 30, 2024.
Completed facility inspecons earn points for each
district.
On May 1, 2024, five locaons in each district with
completed inspecons will be chosen for a facility
audit at random. Successful audits will earn
addional points for the district.
Bristol District: On The Road 3

CVC events held in October, planning underway for addional events in 2023
Mulple successful Combined Virginia Campaign
(CVC) events were held this fall and many more
are in the works through the remainder of 2023.
Just over $1,400 was raised at the District Office
on Halloween during the Bristol District Smoke
Off/Bake Off.
The winner of the inaugural smoke off was
District Facilies Secon Manager Chad Gentry,
who prepared brisket.
The bake off winner was District
Telecommunicaons Coordinator Jeremy
McClanahan with cheesecake.
The winners chose CureSearch for Children’s
Cancer as the receiving charity for the funds
raised.
Thanks to everyone who parcipated in both
events and especially to the cooks and bakers!
The Lebanon Residency held a soup bean lunch
in October and raised over $500 for Appalachian
Agency of Senior Cizens.
Also in October, the Abingdon Residency held a
toy drive and potluck fundraiser that raised
$1,035 for Santa’s Angels in Smyth County and
Children’s Advocacy Center in Washington
County.
The Wytheville Residency and Baywood AHQ
recently completed a food drive for Agape Food
Pantry on November 4, collecng 150 pounds of
food.
The Wise Residency is in the middle of a food
drive that will wrap up December 1. The food
will be donated to Family Crisis Support Services
in Norton.
At the District Office, upcoming events include a
door decorang contest, a basket aucon and
Toys for Tots toy drive.
Special thanks to everyone who organized
events for this year’s campaign. Visit DOTi and
the Bristol District CVC Campaign Sharepoint site
for more informaon.
The Halloween Smoke Off/Bake Off was
well aended.
Pictured are District CVC Chair Tina Neal, Smoke Off
Winner Chad Gentry, District Engineer Tabitha
Crowder, P.E., District Bake Off Jeremy McClanahan,
and CVC Commiee Member Salena Felty.
Abingdon’s Potluck also had a great
turnout!
4
Bristol District: On The Road

Business Route 23 ribbon cung held in Wise
A ribbon cung ceremony was held October
23 for the compleon of the road widening
project on Business Route 23 between Route
23 and Cherry Street in Wise.
The project improves traffic flow by providing
two lanes in each direcon and a connuous
two‐way le‐turn lane.
“By improving the capacity
along this busy stretch of
Business Route 23 we
ancipate traffic moving
more efficiently through the
area,” Tabitha Crowder, P.E.
District Engineer said.
The project began in March
2022 and was completed
ahead of schedule. The cost
of the project including
design, right of way and
construcon is $11.5 million.
Construcon was performed by W‐L
Construcon & Paving LLC., Chilhowie.
This poron of Business Route 23 carries
approximately 14,000 vehicles per day.
Plum-
Employee Engagement: VDOT helps Southwest Virginia 4-H Center
Approximately 35 Bristol District employees
parcipated in the district’s inaugural day of
service at the Southwest Virginia 4‐H Center in
Washington County on September 22.
Task included landscaping, tree trimming, wood
spling, painng and cleaning.
Lane Farm
Community service leave or vacaon was used
to parcipate. The event was organized by the
Bristol Employee Engagement Commiee.
Special thanks to Southwest Virginia 4‐H
Center’s Sam Fisher for working with us to
organize the day and to the 4‐H Center for
feeding us lunch during our service day!
The Employee Engagement Commiee plans to
organize another service opportunity in 2024.
The
Repass
Bristol District: On The Road
5

Roundabouts planned,
roundabout opens
VDOT, in partnership with Food City
and its new store in Clintwood,
opened a second roundabout within
the Wise Residency this fall.
The first roundabout in the district is
located on Route 610 at Union High
School and opened to traffic in
August 2017.
More roundabouts for the district are
in the preliminary engineering phase.
Safety Spotlight: Oh Deer! Reduce the risk of
car vs. deer crashes
What should you do to beer prepare yourself and
reduce the risk of a car vs. deer crash?
Buckle up. More than half of fatalies from animal
strikes happen aer the collision because drivers
aren’t wearing a seatbelt.
Slow down. Always drive the speed limit so you have
enough me to scan the road for wildlife and react if
an animal crosses your path.
Three roundabout public hearings
were also held in recent months:
Route 83 at the intersecon of Route
637 in Dickenson County, the
Thompson Drive roundabout at
Stanley Street in Abingdon and the
Route 11/660 roundabout in Smyth
County.
Drivers should yield, look le, then
proceed into the roundabout if it is
clear, then exit at your intended
desnaon. All approaching vehicles
must yield to traffic already in the
circle.
New roundabout on Route 83 at new
Food City.
Don’t tailgate. Following other vehicles too closely
reduces your field of vision and shortens your
reacon me.
Know the area. Be extra cauous on roads
surrounded by farmland or trees on either side.
Remember where you’ve seen wildlife in the past.
Stay alert. Watch for the reflecon of deer eyes in
your headlights. Look for shadows near the shoulder
of the road.
Don’t swerve. If you swerve to avoid an animal, you
run the risk of colliding with something else such as a
guardrail, ulity pole or another car.
Look for “animal friends.” Deer travel in packs. If you
see one, it’s likely more will be nearby.
Know what to do if you strike an animal. Pull over to
a safe space. Turn on your flashers. Use cauon
when approaching an injured animal. Call
dispatch or 911 as needed.
Virginia D epartm ent of Transportation
BristolDistrict -Of ce of Public A ffairs
2111 Bonham Road
Bristol,VA 24201
276-669-6151
michelle.earl@VDOT.Virginia.gov
joseph.barker@ iVDOT.virginia.gov