MADISON — According to officials, the City of Madison applied for and received a Work Zone Sign Package valued at approximately $2,700 from West Virginia's Local Technical Assistance Program.

The package consists of traffic control devices that communities can use to warn and guide traffic around and through road construction and maintenance zones, according to Mayor H.H. "Sonny" Howell Jr.

It includes 18 portable work zone signs, 16 cones, six sign stands, four barricades, four plastic drums, four full-coverage safety vests and two reflective “Stop/Slow” paddles, Howell said.

Madison was one of 10 municipalities selected, Howell said.

Four cities (Bluefield, Logan, Richwood and Saint Marys) and five towns (Belington, Grant Town, New Haven Rupert and Triadelphia) also received a Work Zone Sign Package from the Local Technical Assistance Program, according to a press release.

In addition to the package, each municipality will receive a free, hands-on work zone safety training course that provides correct work zone set-up for a safer environment for both road crews and travelers, according to the release.

Madison will use the package to improve work zone safety during road construction, maintenance, utility operations and incident management, Howell said.

Madison was selected because of its demonstrated need of work zone traffic control devices and its commitment to training workers, Howell said.

The Local Technical Assistance Program provides training and technical assistance for the state and municipal surface transportation workforce, according to the release. It is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Department of Transportation. It is located at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

Including this year’s group of recipients, the Local Technical Assistance Program has awarded 51 Work Zone Sign Packages to Mountain State municipalities since it began in 1995, according to the release.

The Work Zone Sign Package is one of the many services offered by the Local Technical Assistance Program to improve highway safety across the state, according to the release. The goal is to help municipalities improve the quality of their work zone traffic control and, ultimately, improve traffic safety in the state.

Howell and City Manager Roger Weaver traveled to Morgantown earlier this month to pick up Madison's Work Zone Sign Package.

Contact Jacob Messer at jacobmesser@coalvalleynew.com and 369-1165 or 785-8951.