Media alert: Highway Helper media day
AMES, Iowa – Nov. 16, 2015 – Members of the media are invited to view an Iowa Department of Transportation’s Highway Helper safety patrol truck and ask questions of the staff about the expanded safety patrol program at one of three media events. No formal program will be provided. Participants are welcome to come and go during the scheduled time.
Cedar Rapids
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 9 to 11 a.m.
Iowa DOT District 6 Office
5455 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
Iowa City
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2 to 3 p.m.
Johnson County Secondary Roads Conference Room
4810 Melrose Ave.
Council Bluffs
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Council Bluffs Interstate Project Office
Mall of the Bluffs
1751 Madison Ave., Suite 750
The State of Iowa’s expanded Highway Helper program launched in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Council Bluffs areas on Monday, Nov. 16. The program, which also runs in Des Moines, is focused on quickly clearing crashes and stalled vehicles to increase roadway safety in Iowa’s major metropolitan areas that experience the most traffic congestion. Highway Helper vehicles assist motorists with flat tires, jump starts, fuel, and transports free of charge. They also provide traffic control that allows law enforcement and other emergency personnel to focus on more specialized response efforts.
“Quickly clearing incidents keeps traffic moving, reduces the amount of time it takes to clear up events, and lowers the chance of secondary crashes happening,” said Scott Marler, Iowa DOT’s Office of Traffic Operations director. “By keeping the traveling public moving we can save them time and money, as well as keep them safe.”
Each metro area will have two roving patrols that operate between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays and during select high-traffic holidays and events as specified by the Iowa DOT.
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Media contact: Scott Marler at [email protected] or 515-239-1040
For in-person interviews, please contact:
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Cathy Cutler at [email protected] or 319-364-0235
Council Bluffs Scott Suhr at [email protected] or 712-243-7627