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Missouri's Number of Critical Condition Bridges is Growing
Just two-and-a-half years after the completion of the most intense bridge program in the state's history, the number of critical-condition bridges in Missouri is growing again.
After the latest round of bridge inspections, the number of bridges in critical need of attention has risen to 641 - 50 more than a year ago. State Bridge Engineer Dennis Heckman says that trend is likely to continue.
"When we completed the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program in 2012, we stemmed the tide for a while," he said. "But we knew that the curve would start going up again. Safe & Sound made a dent; however, it did not repair or replace all of the state's bad bridges. Now, with a shrinking construction budget, the number of bad bridges is on the rise again."
Missouri has 10,376 bridges on state highways, including 209 that are more than 1,000 feet long. While the Safe & Sound program replaced or repaired more than 800 bridges over four years, 50 to 100 fall into the "critical condition" category each year. Critical condition bridges are the state's worst and, with continued deterioration, are just one or two steps from being closed. Read More.
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| Will You Take the Distracted Driving Safety Pledge? |
Yes, I pledge to stop texting while driving and stay focused on the road.
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Pledge Now to
Focus
on the Road
Statewide campaign on the dangers
of distracted driving
Are you an advocate of driving distraction free? Do you park the phone and drive the vehicle? Well, your pledge to drive distraction free could pay off big - with a brand new 2015 Ford Focus.
To help prevent distracted driving, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety has teamed up with KRCG-TV and Joe Machen's Ford to bring the problem into focus. From now until Nov. 6, the coalition is urging drivers to Focus on the Road as part of a promotion to win a 2015 Ford Focus donated by KRCG and the Machen's Dealership.
"Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving," said Coalition Executive Committee Chair Bill Whitfield. "It's also one of the leading factors in traffic crashes in Missouri and nationwide."
Throughout the course of the campaign, representatives of KRCG will be engaging high school and college students across the state in assemblies and campus meetings to educate them on the importance of driving distraction free. Guest speakers from ThinkFirst Missouri will be sharing first hand experiences and the consequences of distracted driving. During these visits; students will be encouraged to sign a pledge to drive distraction free and place their name in the drawing for the Ford Focus. Read More. Click here to take the pledge - Safety Pledge.
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Construction of New I-70 Bridges Begins
Construction of the design-build project to replace the Interstate 70 bridges at Business Loop 70, Garth Avenue and Rangeline Street is now officially underway.
"We're pleased to get underway with this important project to replace these aging bridges that run over Interstate 70," said Travis Koestner, assistant district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation's Central District. "The bridges are safe for travel, but they are in poor condition and carry a lot of traffic and need to be replaced."
An average of 80,000 vehicles a day cross the I-70 bridges at these three locations. The structures date back to 1957.
The project also includes building new roundabouts on the north and south sides of I-70 at the Business Loop 70/West Boulevard interchange and at Rangeline. To speed up the work, several of the new bridges will be built next to the existing structures and slid into place. The project is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 1, 2016. Read More.
Maps showing the pedestrian detour route, COMO Black Connector Route and all of the project information can be found online at: www.modot.org/ColumbiaBridges.
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61-Mile Yard Sale This Weekend! Going to the 61-
Mile Yard Sale? Visitors and residents will be out in full force along Route 61 Labor Day weekend in search of bargains at the 61-Mile Yard Sale from Bloomsdale to Jackson, Mo. MoDOT wants you to remember the greatest savings of the event could be a life. With the increase in traffic and congestion, drivers need be alert and use caution. The sale runs Sept. 3 - 5.
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A Little More to the Right - A MoDOT contractor helps guide a girder in place for a new bridge at U.S. Route 60 and Webster County Route B/VV in Rogersville. The new bridge is part of the Project Freeway: U.S. 60 Rogersville design/build project scheduled for completion in Dec. 2016.
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Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270
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