SHARE:  
Join Our Email List

March 5, 2015
Top of the Page
Spring is Coming and that Brings Potholes

Report Potholes Online and Via Hotline
Spring is officially two weeks away, but rising temperatures this weekend after recent winter storms will bring out the potholes in Missouri's roads. At MoDOT, the start of March means crews turn their attention to the potholes that "spring" forth as temperatures change.


 


"Our goal is to patch potholes as quickly as possible and get us through the transition to warmer weather," said Elizabeth Wright, MoDOT state maintenance engineer. "MoDOT's crews will repair minor road damage quickly, but we need the public's help to spot those potholes and let us know where they are."

 

There are multiple ways motorists can report potholes:

Potholes form when temperatures warm up during the day but continue to be cold at night. Moisture from winter rain and snow constantly seeps into the cracks and joints of the roadway. When the temperatures drop at night, that water freezes and expands the pavement, which causes it to crack and bulge. As cars and trucks drive over those cracks, the pressure causes chunks of pavement to pop out, and potholes are formed.

MoDOT is responsible for all state-maintained highways in Missouri. Potholes and other damage on city and county streets should be reported to the appropriate local agency. If you aren't sure if a road is maintained by MoDOT, give the customer service center a call and one of MoDOT's customer service representatives can tell you.
 
Getting Social with MoDOT

Over the last seven years, MoDOT has cultivated an audience through social media. We've learned the best ways to engage that audience and watched as that audience has grown making MoDOT a leader in social media among other state departments of transportation.

The social media outlet that drives the most engagement for MoDOT is our Facebook page, which has a little over 41,000 followers. MoDOT uses this following to spread awareness for work zone safety, the importance of safe driving practices and buckling up, MoDOT funding issues, the work we are doing throughout the state, road closures and messaging alerting Missourians of winter weather road conditions.  
Tough Choices -
Did You Know?
Missourians face a challenge because funding for transportation is insufficient.

 
  

MoDOT's commitment to Missourians is to care for our roads and bridges for as long as we can with the resources we have, but TOUGH CHOICES must be made.

When Missouri's transportation construction budget drops to $325 million in 2017, we have to change the way we operate.

The Missouri 325 System plan will focus on approximately 8,000 miles of highway that connect cities across the state. The remaining mileage, our supplementary routes, will see more limited attention - basically routine maintenance.
 
Social Media

Industry Innovations

2015 Exhibit

Do you have an innovative tool, material or piece of equipment that could improve MoDOT operations? 


If your answer is yes, then this is your opportunity to showcase
your innovation for transportation employees across the state. Learn More.

 

Industry Innovations Exhibit

April 29, 2015
University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
Springfield, MO
During winter weather MoDOT keeps Missourians up to date on road conditions by posting images of the Traveler Information Map along with a link to the website and advice to download the mobile app. Along with these road condition posts, MoDOT includes safety tips for driving in winter weather and other winter weather related content.

Before a winter snow event on Feb. 20, we shared an animated video on our Facebook page on best practices when shoveling snow to avoid having to shovel snow again after plows go down the road. As of Feb. 24, the video had reached almost 12 million people. Click here to watch the video - Best Practices for Shoveling Snow.
Off The Road News


Commuter Parking Lots and Carpooling

MoDOT's commuter parking lots are a convenient place to leave personal vehicles while sharing a ride with another person or group. Visit MoDOT's website to find all commuter lot locations, capacities and features - Commuter Lots.

 

You can also find links to Missouri's carpooling websites - MoDOT Carpool Connections, and there's even a link for calculating your carbon footprint - Calculator.
Safer Roadways

Missourians Asked to "Choose Your Ride" This St. Patrick's Day Holiday

Americans love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, when everyone claims to be a wee bit Irish. Missouri state and local law enforcement will work overtime March 14-17, with DWI saturation and sobriety checkpoints to keep substance-impaired drivers off the roadways.

 

Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is a conscious choice and not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.

 

To find out more about roadway safety, visit the Coalition for Roadway Safety's webpage - Arrive Alive.

Have You Seen This?

States Seek Alternatives for Highway, Bridge Funding

An article on the condition of transportation infrastructure, written by David Lieb of the Missouri Associated Press, was released nationally by the AP and can be read here - States Seek Alternatives for Highway, Bridge Funding.

Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270