Cone cowboy says ‘slow down’
April 21, 2026
By Jewel Schoppe
San Angelo, Texas — There’s a monster cowboy in San Angelo and he’s tipping his hat to safe drivers.
Every year, TxDOT marks National Work Zone Awareness Week by reminding Texans of a simple but critical message: slow down, stay alert, and drive safely through work zones.
With thousands of active work zones around the state, that message matters more than ever.
While traditional outreach like press events and social media play an important role, some TxDOT employees are finding a more creative way to get the public’s attention. They are turning retired traffic barrels into art.
When traffic barrels and cones no longer meet roadway safety standards, employees repurpose them —outside of working hours — to create eye‑catching sculptures that spark curiosity and start conversations about safety.
Meet Tex in San Angelo
In San Angelo, that creativity led to the creation of Tex, a cowboy‑themed “traffic cone man” built entirely from retired traffic barrels and cones.
Designed with the spirit of West Texas in mind, Tex reflects the cowboy culture celebrated during the San Angelo Rodeo, which brings thousands of visitors to the area around the same time as National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Once unveiled to the public, Tex will be placed along Knickerbocker Road, where he’ll greet passing drivers with a friendly wave, and serve as a reminder to slow down and stay alert in work zones.
A statewide tradition of barrel creatures
San Angelo wasn’t the first TxDOT office to pair work zone awareness with creativity. Employees across the state have been creating barrel sculptures for years, each with its own look, name, and safety message.
In El Paso, three safety creatures greet the community: Work Zone Willy (man), Safe‑T-Rex (dinosaur), Safe-T-Jake (rattlesnake). Each encourages drivers to slow down and pay attention in work zones.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback from the community,” said El Paso public information officer Lauren Macias-Cervantes. “People love the creatures, especially children. Visitors stop and snap photos all the time.”
Employees say the sculptures are especially effective with families and children.
“If we can make kids more aware of safety at a young age, that’s a win,” said creator and Presidio maintenance supervisor Jesus Hernandez. “I enjoy recycling items and using my creativity to make these. I hope to build more creatures in the future.”
In Houston, employees began making barrel sculptures in 2022 and quickly expanded both their designs and their reach. Their creations have included dinosaurs, squids, rockets, alligators, people, and even a bee.
That creativity took center stage at the Houston Art Car Parade, drawing an estimated 300,000 spectators. Each year, the sculptures have received strong support from the community, helping to raise awareness about work zone safety in an engaging and memorable way.
In Brownwood, barrel sculptures are built with the same spirit of fun and imagination. Jeremy Alcorn from the TxDOT office in Comanche County said the key is starting with a clear mind, letting creativity lead, and enjoying the process.
For many employees, the experience is as rewarding as the final product.
A shared commitment to safety
TxDOT employees across Texas are using creativity to reinforce an important message: work zones are active, and lives depend on driver’s attention.
By repurposing unusable materials and sharing their time and talent, employees are finding new ways to connect with the public and remind everyone that behind every orange barrel is a person working to keep Texas moving safely.
