The Missouri Department of Transportation has confirmed that its 10-foot tall orange work zone safety mascot, Barrel Bob, has been found in Boone County.
Bob was taken from his post on U.S. Highway 50/63 in Jefferson City on Saturday, March 19 and had been missing for nearly two weeks. He was found last Thursday evening when a motorist spotted him in a ditch on Missouri Highway 163 (Tom Bass Road).
According to reports from MoDOT workers on the scene, Bob was shaken up but appeared unharmed. To the surprise of no one within the agency, he refused treatment and asked to be taken immediately to MoDOT’s Columbia maintenance facility.
At the facility, Bob joked with some of his beloved highway heroes and talked about work zone safety with anyone who would listen.
Before he left Columbia for his home in Jefferson City, Barrel Bob vowed to return for public appearances in time to raise awareness for Work Zone Awareness Week, which is April 11-17.
If you would like to send Bob welcome home messages, you can follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MOBarrelBob. You can also follow MoDOT’s Central District on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MoDOTCentralMissouriDistrict or on Twitter at @MoDOT Central.
An “online exclusive” is an article or story that does not run in the print edition of the Houston Herald. Typically 2-3 are posted online every Wednesday morning. It is another feature for users who purchase full web access from the Herald.
Click here to subscribe for print, digital or both.