The other major funding category for highways and bridges is major projects. Like rehabilitation and reconstruction, the cost to address all the needs for major projects greatly exceeds available funding. Major projects address safety, congestion relief, economic development, and new construction or reconstruction of major segments of the system. These projects substantially change the characteristics of the highway. In addition to currently identified needs, MoDOT will work with its transportation partners and planning organizations to identify, evaluate and prioritize emerging needs. Applying fiscal constraints to the expansion needs requires careful consideration of total state needs and the statewide transportation investment goals. When MoDOT first developed the Long-Range Transportation Plan, it included all 1992 Plan projects regardless of priority. In revising the plan to take a more reasonable approach to meeting its priorities, MoDOT examined the rural projects included in the 1992 Plan and included the highest priority projects based on the investment goals. For example, MoDOT will focus on eliminating short stretches of two-lane roads between two four-lane sections on major corridors. Other rural projects have been added that were not in the original 1992 Plan. These were important needs that also support the goals of the Long-Range Transportation Plan and that emerged after the original plan was submitted. These projects include building three major bridges across the Missouri River on Route 19 at Hermann, on Route 59 to Atchison, Kan., and on Route 136 to Rulo, Neb. Costs for urban major projects in Metropolitan Planning Organization long-range transportation plans are also included. The MPOs (East-West Gateway Coordinating Council in St. Louis, Mid-America Regional Council in Kansas City, Springfield, St. Joseph, Columbia and Joplin) must develop long-range transportation plans. These plans include specific major projects that are constrained by the funds available in a specific timeframe. These projects from the MPO long-range transportation plans represent the urban major project needs and are included as major projects needs in MoDOT's Long-Range Transportation Plan. Interstate highways in Missouri are intended to function effectively as critical state and regional corridors, nationally important interstates and frequently traveled local highways. Interstate needs in Missouri are growing because of greatly increased traffic and the condition of the existing interstates. Initially, MoDOT will focus on I-70 because of its age and existing condition. Based on MoDOT's existing major project commitments and new needs, the department estimates it will need more than $17 billion to complete the most important statewide major projects. Even after determining broad priorities based on the eight investment goals, more specific priorities still must be set among important projects. MoDOT will work with its transportation partners to identify which major project investments are the state's highest priorities. It will use more measurable factors like safety, connectivity and traffic growth to establish these priorities.