February 28, 2004 – Damage to signs and other state property costly, dangerous and could result in jail time
    If you run into someone else’s car, you or your insurance has to pay for the damages, right? If someone runs into or damages state property, guess what? They have to pay for the damages. Who do they pay? The Missouri Department of Transportation.
“We have people who work very much like an insurance agency to file claims and recover the costs,” explained Mark Giessinger, area engineer with MoDOT’s Northeast District. “We work closely with state, county and city law enforcement to identify areas where property damage has occurred,” he said. Many times, however, after the damage is done the offender drives away, leaving the property to be discovered during routine checks and leaving the bill with Missouri taxpayers.
“When law enforcement is involved, we have a good chance of recovering the cost,” Giessinger said. “It’s a great way to help recoup tax dollars,” he continued. Statewide, MoDOT collects about $2 million dollars each year and anticipates this number to increase with new processes being implemented.
Signs, guardrail and guard cable are items that are regularly damaged. “These are safety features on our roadway that must be repaired immediately,” Giessinger said. The cost to replace a sign can be several hundred dollars, but the real cost could come in safety. “If a stop sign, or even a yield sign, is missing from an intersection, someone could be seriously injured or even killed,” he explained.
    Stealing or vandalism to state property could result in high fines and/or even jail time. If you know of damage that has occurred to state property, please notify law enforcement or call MoDOT at 1-888-275-6636.

February 17, 2005 - Roadway contract awarded for Route 54 work in Audrain County

   Beginning, Wednesday, February 16, traffic will be reduced to one lane on southbound Route 54 near the Audrain/Callaway County line with the southbound driving lane closed.   Lanes will remain closed over night and through the weekends for approximately three to four weeks for work on a culvert extension near the shoulder area.   Crews are preparing the area for the upcoming resurfacing of Route 54. Brief delays should be expected.

   Route 54 between Mexico and Scott's Corner will be resurfaced and shoulders paved by the end of this summer.   The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently awarded the project to Bross Construction Company of Hannibal, Mo., at a bid of $795,549.71.

   After the removal of existing asphalt, two sections of the north and southbound lanes of Route 54 south of Mexico will be resurfaced.   The northbound lanes will be resurfaced from north of County Road 9826 south 1.1 miles.    Resurfacing of the southbound lanes will be from north of County Road 964 south 2.4 miles.

February 17, 2005-Speed advisory plates added to curve signs

  As a part of the Missouri Blueprint for Safer Roadways, MoDOT is expanding the use of advisory speed plates throughout the state.   The speed plates are attached to the pole directly below the curve sign to advise motorists of a safe speed to travel on the curve ahead.   

February 16, 2005 - Routes in Marion and Ralls counties to be resurfaced
    The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded a project to resurface a total of 10.4 miles of highway in Marion and Ralls counties. Bross Construction Company of Hannibal, Mo., was the successful bidder on the project at $345,005.66.
    Route 168 in Marion County will be resurfaced from Route JJ south to Route 61 in Hannibal, and Route DD in Ralls County will be resurfaced from Route 36 south to the end of state maintenance.
    Traffic will be handled on the existing pavement during the resurfacing operations, but will be restricted to one lane. Work is expected to begin after April 1, 2005.

February 16, 2005 - Roadway Contract Awarded for Work in Marion County
    The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently awarded a transportation improvement project for work on Routes 24 and MM in Marion County. Bross Construction Company of Hannibal, Mo., was the successful bidder on this project at $1,233,730.78.
    Route 24 will be resurfaced from 4.5 miles south of Palmyra south 1.8 miles. Before resurfacing, the existing asphalt will be removed from the driving lanes. The shoulders will also be paved as a portion of this project.
    Route MM will be resurfaced from 0.2 mile west of County Road 426 east to Route 61 in Hannibal. The surface on the Bear Creek Bridge will be removed and replaced with an overlay. The curb on the bridge will also be modified and new guardrail installed. Traffic will be one-way and controlled with temporary signals while work is being done on the bridge.
    Routes 24 and MM will remain open to traffic but will be restricted to one lane at times. Work may begin after Feb. 14 and is expected to be complete by late fall.

February 16, 2005 - Routes in Audrain, Monroe and Ralls counties to be resurfaced
    The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded a project to resurface a total of 15.3 miles of highway in Audrain, Monroe and Ralls counties. Bross Construction Company of Hannibal, Mo., was the successful bidder on the project at $494,799.03.
    Route D in Audrain County will be resurfaced from the east junction of Route M east to Route 54. Route 154 in Monroe and Ralls counties will be resurfaced from west of Route 107 east to Route 19.
    Traffic will be handled on the existing pavement during the resurfacing operations, but will be restricted to one lane. Work is expected to begin after April 1, 2005.

February 14, 2005 -- Survivor Twila helping with Highway Survivor game for teen

   The day before the new “Survivor” series begins on CBS, former Survivor runner-up Twila Tanner will help teach teenagers about the importance of safe driving habits during MoDOT’s Highway Survivor game in Wellsville-Middletown High School in Wellsville, Missouri. The program for juniors and seniors begins at 2:30 p.m. in the gym.
    Twila, who was the first runner-up in the television reality game at Vanuatu, is a maintenance worker with the Missouri Department of Transportation. MoDOT’s Highway Survivor game is based on the reality tv show as an interactive, fun way to teach Missouri’s young drivers about the responsibilities of the road. The game is offered to juniors and seniors throughout high schools in northeast Missouri and has been a huge hit with all who have played.
    This is the first time since her participation in the Survivor game that Twila is able to assist with Highway Survivor.
For more information about Highway Survivor, contact Marisa Brown, Public Information Manager with MoDOT’s Northeast District at 573-248-2490.
RULES OF THE GAME:
The ultimate goal of Highway Survivor is to have our youngest drivers learn from the interactive experience. They are divided into tribes and travel around our lifesize "highway" (complete with an intersection and signs). Each tribe chooses a tribal leader, who gets a hat, vest, nametag and scorecard. Our maintenance/construction staff asks each tribe questions relating to safety - if they answer the question correctly, they receive 3 points; if they don't, they have to do a tribal challenge. Some of the challenges consist of building a bridge out of blocks, putting on a Nascar safety belt, throwing trash into a trash can, identifying signs, etc. We have 8 challenges. They get 2 points for getting the challenge completed, and 1 point if they didn't get either right, but learned something. At the end, we tally the score sheets to determine a winner. Typically, we have a tie, so we do an immunity challenge which consists of a scooter race between cones.