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RIDOT Hosts Second Day of Construction Career Days Today: Hands-on activities showcase transportation during National Transportation Week

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is hosting the second of its two day Construction Career Days today, May 14, 2009. This atypical school day is being held at RIDOT’s Midstate Facility in East Greenwich between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nearly 1,300 high school students will have participated once the two days of interactive construction activities are done.

Instead of learning about the construction industry through a text book, students will get their hands on the real thing – getting to operate backhoes, excavators, pavers, bucket trucks and more during the ninth annual Construction Career Days. The event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, is one of many taking place during National Transportation Week (May 11-15), and is sponsored by RIDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the University of Rhode Island Transportation Center.

“Construction Career Day can be the first step towards a career in construction and other transportation related fields,” RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. “In good economies or bad, this field will always be looking for its next generation of workers.”

Students attending the event will move from station to station, operating heavy machinery on the grounds of the Midstate Facility and visiting numerous tables and displays inside covering welding, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, and other construction disciplines. Additionally, a number of technical schools and colleges will be in attendance.

Media visiting Construction Days will have the opportunity to interview students and exhibitors as well as use all of the equipment on site. Local newspapers are asked to contact the RIDOT Office of Communications in advance for assistance in meeting students from their coverage areas.

Thursday, May 14 -- Participating Towns and Schools:

Bristol: Mount Hope High School

Cranston: NEL/CPS Construction Career Academy

Coventry: Coventry High School Regional Career & Tech Center

Cumberland: Cumberland High School Special Needs Class

East Providence: East Providence Career & Technical Center

Exeter/W. Greenwich: Exeter/West Greenwich High School-ALP Special Education

Glocester: Harmony Hill School

Johnston: Calef ALP School and Johnston High School

Lincoln: Spurwink School II, Davies Career & Technical High School, and Northern R.I. Collaborative Transition Employment Center

Middletown: Middletown High School

Newport: Newport Area Career & Technical Center

North Providence: St. Lawrence School

Pawtucket: Pawtucket Alternative Learning Program, Shea High School, and Tolman High School

Providence: Academy of Services High School, College Crusade of Rhode Island, Dr. Alvarez High School, E3 Academy, Feinstein High School, High Road School of Providence, Mount Pleasant High School, and Providence Skills Center Scituate: Scituate High School

South Kingstown: South Kingstown High School

Tiverton: Tiverton High School

Warwick: Warwick Skills Center

Woonsocket: Beacon Charter High School

DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 North or South to Exit 7 (West Warwick, Coventry). Follow signs.

Related links

  • Department or agency: Department of Transportation
  • Online: http://www.dot.ri.gov
  • Release date: 05-14-2009

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