ODOT crews recognized for workplace safety: Southeastern district awarded for best safety record
The employees of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation work in all conditions and risk their lives daily to help construct and maintain the state’s highways, interstates and bridges. Safety in these work zones is a collective commitment and critical to ensure each worker makes it home at the end of the day. With safety being ODOT’s top priority, the agency conducts onsite reviews, accident follow-ups and ongoing education initiatives as part of its worker safety program.
At the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s June meeting, Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz and ODOT Assistant Director of Operations Taylor Henderson awarded crews who demonstrated a continued commitment to safety in the past year.
The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award is presented annually to the ODOT field district with the best overall safety record in the past year. The 2025 award went to District Two, headquartered in Antlers and led by Safety Manager Keith Bonham and District Engineer Anthony Echelle. The southeastern district includes Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, Marshall, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha counties. District Two worked over 391,000 hours, experiencing only two injuries and no lost workdays. Total accidents, accident severity and lost workdays are all taken into consideration in determining the winner of the award.
The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field district with the most improved safety rating in the past year. The award for 2025 was presented to District One, headquartered in Muskogee and led by Safety Manager Greg Kincaid, who retired from ODOT in December 2025, and District Engineer Chris Wallace. The district in East Central Oklahoma earned this award by reducing its overall accidents and reducing lost workdays in 2025. District One includes Adair, Cherokee, Haskell, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties.
The Director’s Safety Awards are presented to the unit in each of ODOT’s eight field districts and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety efforts for 2025. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
The winners for 2025 are:
- District One — Cherokee County Maintenance Crew
- District Two — Center Line Crew
- District Three — Ada Residency
- District Four — Noble County Maintenance Crew
- District Five — Greer County Maintenance Crew
- District Six — Buffalo Shop
- District Seven — Cotton County Maintenance Crew
- District Eight — Delaware County Maintenance Crew
- Oklahoma City Headquarters — Survey Division
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Governor’s Safety Excellence Award was awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District Two. The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award is presented annually to the ODOT field district with the best overall safety record in the past year. Pictured from left are Chief Engineer T.J. Dill, Director of Operations Shawn Davis, District Two Transportation Commissioner Eric Stuteville, District Two Transportation Manager TJ Williams, District Two Road Maintenance Supervisor Scott Landreth, District Two Engineer Anthony Echelle and Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. District Two is headquartered in Antlers and includes Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, Marshall, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha counties.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Progressive Excellence Award was awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District One. The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field district with the most improved safety rating in the past year. Pictured from left are Chief Engineer T.J. Dill, Director of Operations Shawn Davis, District One Transportation Commissioner Ronnie Boswell, District One Engineer Chris Wallace, District One Maintenance Engineer Nick Clark, Cherokee County Resident Maintenance Supervisor Beau Ballard and Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. District One includes Adair, Cherokee, Haskell, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Director’s Safety Excellence Award for District One was awarded to the Cherokee County Maintenance Crew. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Director’s Safety Excellence Award for District Two was awarded to the Center Crew. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Director’s Safety Excellence Award for District Three was awarded to the Ada Residency. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Director’s Safety Excellence Award for District Four was awarded to the Noble County Maintenance Crew. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Director’s Safety Excellence Award for District Five was awarded to the Greer County Maintenance Crew. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2025 Director’s Safety Excellence Award for District Six was awarded to the Buffalo Shop. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
