November 30, 2004 - Public meeting scheduled regarding Champ Clark Bridge rehabilitation - The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking comments from motorists who use the Mississippi River Bridge on Route 54 at Louisiana about potential and temporary closures during the rehabilitation of this bridge beginning in the summer of 2005.   A public meeting will be held at Louisiana City Hall on Monday, December 13, 2004 from 4 until 6 p.m.   This is an open house meeting with exhibits and examples of how the bridge will be rehabilitated.   MoDOT would like input on when it best suits motorists to temporarily close the bridge for short periods of time to complete the project.  

   "Some of the work needs to be done underneath the bridge deck", explained Rick Domzalski, MoDOT Project Manager for MoDOT.   "It is necessary to take traffic loads off the bridge as structural steel is repaired or replaced.   We can close the bridge to do this a little at a time, possibly during the overnight hours, or all at once to get this work done," he continued.  

   If you are not able to attend, but would like to make a comment, please call MoDOT's Northeast District office in Hannibal at 1-888-275-6636 or 573-248-2490.   You may also email Richard.domzalski@modot.mo.gov to provide input.   If you choose to mail your comments, please send to Richard Domzalski, Transportation Project Manager, MoDOT, PO Box 1067, Hannibal, MO   63401.   All correspondence must be received by Friday, December 24, 2004.

November 23, 2004 - MoDOT, Iowa DOT, Clark County celebrating completion of Route 27 -  Congressman Kenny Hulshof will be the guest speaker at the Route 27 milestone celebration on Friday, December 3 at 1 p.m. at the Iowa and Missouri border in St. Francisville.   The Missouri and Iowa DOT's, along with members of the Clark County communities, have coordinated efforts to recognize the completion of another stretch of seven miles of four lane highway along the Avenue of the Saints.   The public is invited to attend.

   Several dignitaries from Iowa and Missouri will at the event to recognize the importance of this milestone.

"This has been a terrific cooperative effort among the DOT's and the communities," said Iowa Highway Commissioner Don Carmody.   "We are pleased that the four lane highway will soon open between Missouri and Iowa," he continued.

   Time capsules, one each from Iowa and Missouri, will be presented during the outdoor ceremony on the new bridges spanning the Des Moines River in St. Francisville.   The Clark County High School Music Department will play the National Anthem, and Karl Shaffer of Mount Pleasant, Iowa will sing a song especially written about the Avenue of the Saints.   "Martha Hayes, niece of Ernie Hayes and the man who coined the Avenue of the Saints phrase, found the song while going through some old things," explained Carmody.   "We just couldn't have the ceremony without it!" he continued.   The song will be sung to the tune "When the Saints Go Marching In."

   Following the outdoor ceremony and a ceremonial drive, those in attendance are invited to an indoor reception being held in St. Francisville at a new business.   HyVee Food Stores of Mount Pleasant, Iowa are providing all refreshments, and local businesses including Iowa DOT and MoDOT will have displays available for viewing.   Steve Murphy of the Clark County Economic Development group will introduce local officials, and Tom Boland, former Chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and member of the Avenue of the Saints Committee, will introduce additional state and federal officials.

   Freesen, Inc., who was responsible for the grading and bridge work on the new highway, is sponsoring a free Avenue of the Saints memento for each in attendance.

November 23, 2004 - New Signals in Hannibal to be Activated -
Weather permitting, late Monday, November 29, the new traffic signals on Route 61 at Warren Barrett Drive and Red Devil Road in Hannibal will be activated and the entire intersection will open.  

     "We will be testing the signals off and on Monday and anticipate them being fully functional that evening," explained MoDOT Operations Engineer Ken Warbritton.

     The intersection should be safer because of the addition of traffic signals and turn lanes.

      MoDOT reminds motorists that the speed limit coming into Hannibal will be permanently reduced from 65 mph, to 55 mph, then to 45 mph before they get to the new signalized intersection.   The new signals at this intersection will be equipped with cameras instead of in-ground loop detectors.   The cameras will notify the signal when vehicles are stopped at the intersection and activates the traffic signal to change .

November 8, 2004 - Culvert Replacements Scheduled in Ralls County - Weather permitting, Monday, November 8, MoDOT crews will replace culverts on Route Y, between Fern Chapel Road and Vermont Lane.   The operations will take place between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.

   Tuesday, November 9 crews will replace culverts on Route CC, three miles from Route H, between 8:30 am and 2:00 pm.   If time and weather permit they will then replace a culvert on Route BB, .2 mile from Route J.   Work on Route BB may continue through Wednesday.

  While crews are working the roadway will be closed with MoDOT personnel directing traffic.   Motorists are urged to use caution and obey all road construction signs and MoDOT personnel.  

November 8, 2004 MoDOT preparing like there's snow tomorrow - As highway construction season comes to an end, the Missouri Department of Transportation snow removal team is preparing for the cold and wet weather that is an inevitable part of every Missouri winter.

   It's difficult to predict when the first snow will fall, and how much snow the winter will bring. Last year, central Missouri received over 23 inches of the white stuff. And, in six of the last 10 years the first snow of the season fell in the month of November with the greatest November amount measuring nearly three inches in 1997.

   "The department reminds motorists to be cautious in all inclement weather conditions this season. When there is snow in some areas of the state, there may only be frost in other areas, but driving conditions may be impaired either way. Please drive smart."  

   "Whether this winter is mild or severe, we want to be ready for whatever comes our way," says Jim Carney, state Maintenance engineer. "It's our job to keep the roads as safe as possible." He says 3,100 MoDOT employees are preparing for winter - and the possible thousands of hours they'll spend plowing snow.

   "Plowing snow is always a challenge because of the long hours and grueling schedule," Carney says. "But, the need to provide a drivable surface for motorists keeps our employees going, and the ever-changing weather keeps the job interesting and challenging."

According to Carney, there are three major components MoDOT must have in place to be prepared for winter -- materials, equipment and well-trained employees. "This year we're out front on all three."  

   All department facilities will be stocked with snow-removal materials, and approximately 1,800 vehicles will be ready to plow snow by early November. "We are packing every grain of salt we can into our available storage facilities, districts are getting their equipment ready and training drivers in preparation for the first snowfall," Carney says.

MoDOT spends about $30 million a year on labor, materials and equipment for snow and ice removal. Approximately 1,800 vehicles are ready to improve driving conditions as soon as possible, and about 300,000 tons of salt are on hand to help melt snow and ice.

During inclement weather, MoDOT prioritizes all roads to quickly assist the largest number of travelers. Roads with the highest traffic volumes are treated and cleared first. These include interstate highways and other major routes, which are continuously plowed and treated throughout a storm.  

The most heavily traveled sections of other routes are the next priority, and they are plowed until they're open to traffic. These routes will be treated with salt where snow and ice conditions may make driving more difficult, such as steep hills, sharp curves, intersections and bridges. Lower-volume routes are the next priority.

   MoDOT plows roads as often as necessary to keep them open. This may mean several trips on the same route, where private driveway entrances can become blocked with cleared snow.   The department provides a diagram on its web site to help alleviate the problem.

   "The best advice for motorists is to stay safe at home during snowstorms," Carney said. "If you need to drive, give snowplows plenty of room and don't pass them. Always stay alert and drive cautiously, especially during the winter season."

Information on road conditions across the state, safe-traveling tips and a diagram on driveway-clearing techniques are all available at MoDOT's Internet site at www.modot.org , under the traveler information heading. Information is also available by calling MoDOT customer service toll-free at (888) ASK MODOT. Recorded road-condition information is available through the state's toll-free road conditions number, (800) 222-6400.

November 5, 2004 MoDOT invests in communities - You've heard it, read about it, and actually experience it by driving - the transportation needs in Missouri far outweigh the money available.

So when a city, county or community identify a transportation improvement on MoDOT's system that we cannot fund for the next several years, they may consider MoDOT's innovative financing program.   One of the steps to apply for innovating financing is to form a Transportation Development District (TDD) or Transportation Corporation.   These are legal entities that can propose a tax for a specific district in a region, city, or county.    MoDOT does not make decisions for a TDD; it simply provides them facts and helps them through the process.   In most cases, a project will be built quicker going through a TDD than if the area had to wait on state funds alone.   Without going into great detail, the innovating financing program can pay up to 50% of a project if a community can fund the other 50%.  

MoDOT is proud of the work it has done and will be doing in the Lincoln County area.   By this time next year, we will have invested almost $2 million in Troy alone by completing improvements on Cherry Lane, Routes H and J, and Front Street.   These do not include the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in our maintenance crews who maintain the roads and bridges.   Within the next year, you will begin seeing another $13 million investment, with the construction of a new interchange at Routes 61 and C in Moscow Mills.

We know how important transportation is to the residents of Lincoln County, and we will continue to improve your system as quickly as our funding allows.   We appreciate your patience and support while we do our work on the highways.

If you have questions about MoDOT operations or transportation in general, please call our customer service center during normal business hours at 1-888-275-6636.