Work Zone Safety & Highway 49, I-20 updates
Episode 2 of "The Extra Mile" podcast features a conversation on work zone safety with MDOT Deputy Executive Director/Chief Engineer Brian Ratliff. MDOT Public Information Officer Michael Flood also joins the show to talk Highway 49, I-20 and other central Mississippi project updates.
Episode 2 of "The Extra Mile" podcast features a conversation on work zone safety with MDOT Deputy Executive Director/Chief Engineer Brian Ratliff. MDOT Public Information Officer Michael Flood also joins the show to talk Highway 49, I-20 and other central Mississippi project updates.
The Extra Mile Episode 2: Work Zone Safety & Highway 49, I-20 updates - Show Notes
Show intro with Paul and Waverly
Guest: Brian Ratliff, MDOT Deputy Executive Director/Chief Engineer
The Extra Mile Episode 2: Work Zone Safety & Highway 49, I-20 updates - Show Notes
Show intro with Paul and Waverly
Guest: Brian Ratliff, MDOT Deputy Executive Director/Chief Engineer
- Brian's background, different roles at MDOT
- MDOT adapting and keeping Mississippi moving in a COVID-19 world
- How dangerous is it for the MDOT men and women working out on the roads?
- What can the traveling public do to keep MDOT workers safe?
- MDOT workers are real people, update on worker who lost a leg in the line of service
Litter PSA - voiced by Katey Hornsby, MDOT Southern District Public Information Officer
Guest: Michael Flood, MDOT Central District Public Information Officer
Guest: Michael Flood, MDOT Central District Public Information Officer
- Experiences at MDOT over the years, favorite part of working for the agency
- Highway in Rankin County update
- Why has the Highway 49 project in Rankin County taken so long to complete?
- I-20 project in Jackson update
- Other project updates in central Mississippi, including updates from District 3
- Intro to new District 3 Engineer Earl Glenn
- Reminder to watch out for our workers during projects
Show outro
Creators and Guests
Host
Paul Katool
Paul Katool joined the Mississippi Department of Transportation Public Affairs Division in 2016 as the agency’s first Social Media Strategist. In 2019, he was promoted to Digital Media Manager, where he led the creation of MDOT’s nationally award-winning Extra Mile Podcast. In 2022, Paul assumed the role of Deputy Director of Public Affairs, which includes helping to run the day-to-day operations of the division.
Producer
Drew Hall
Drew Hall is an award-winning media producer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, bringing more than 15 years of experience in video production, photojournalism, podcasting, and public affairs communications. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an emphasis in Broadcasting, Drew began his career in television news as a photojournalist, working for WDBD Fox 40 and WJTV News Channel 12 in Jackson. During nearly 11 years in broadcast news, he covered breaking news, feature stories, and live events throughout Mississippi while developing the ability to tell compelling visual stories under tight deadlines. Drew joined MDOT in 2019, where his work has expanded from video production and photography to strategic communications, multimedia campaigns, podcast production, and production leadership. He serves as the producer and editor of The Extra Mile, MDOT’s podcast featuring conversations with transportation leaders, engineers, policymakers, and other voices connected to Mississippi’s transportation system. His work has received recognition from organizations including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), and the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC). His honors include awards for The Extra Mile, “Don’t Trash Mississippi,” “I-269: Five Years of Economic Boom,” and MDOT Remembers Hurricane Katrina. In his current role, Drew oversees photographer scheduling and production logistics, helps manage the division’s digital media assets and archiving systems, and coordinates drone compliance and operations. He is an Adobe Certified Professional in Digital Video using Premiere Pro and an FAA-licensed remote pilot. Drew’s passion is using video, photography, audio, and storytelling to make complex subjects accessible, connect organizations with their audiences, and showcase the people and stories behind Mississippi’s transportation system.