Some major traffic impacts are happening for travelers in the Columbia area as construction of the Interstate 70 bridges at Rangeline Street, Business Loop 70 and Garth Avenue enters its second phase.

I-70 westbound traffic at both Garth and Rangeline has been redirected onto the new westbound bridges built at those locations. Late next week, eastbound traffic will be shifted to the existing westbound bridges.

The lane shifts will allow the contractor, Emery Sapp and Sons, to tear down the existing eastbound bridges and begin building new ones in their place. 

The speed limit on I-70 through the work zone is reduced from 60 mph to 50 mph, which by itself could cause traffic to back up at peak travel times. Couple that with the ongoing work and lane switches, and you have the potential for some significant traffic issues, said Travis Koestner, assistant district engineer for MoDOT's Central District. Read full news release .

For more information, including a diagram showing the lane switches and to sign up to receive weekly e-mail updates on the project, visit the  website at:  www.modot.org/ColumbiaBridges .

Staying safe during winter weather is something we all need to think about. Now is the time to go through your personal checklist to make sure you and your family are ready for winter travel.

Download the app to check the map.   Download MoDOT's traveler information app  through Googleplay or iPhone for  up-to-date road conditions at your fingertips. Download the app at  www.modot.org , and encourage your family and friends to do the same. You can also view the map on the website.

To make the map even easier to navigate, a short video shows all the options available. Check it out here - TIM How To Video.

Prepare your vehicle for winter. Check your battery, lights, antifreeze, wipers, belts and hoses. Put the ice scraper and other winter supplies in the car now so you don't have to dig for them when you really need them.

Keep an emergency pack in your vehicle.  The basics include blankets, bottled water and nonperishable food, a cell phone, dry clothing, a shovel, jumper cables, a flashlight and batteries. This could be lifesaving in an emergency.

 

Don't forget your tires. The condition of the tread can make a big difference when you're driving on slick roads. It's our job to report to work in inclement weather, so pack an emergency kit in your personal vehicle just in case. 

Don't take visibility for granted. If your car is covered in snow or frost, take the time to clear all the windows so you have maximum visibility. Don't forget to clear snow off the lights, hood and other surfaces of your vehicle so you're visible to other motorists.

Shovel smart - here's the secret

Once should be enough when it comes to shoveling snow out of your driveway after a winter storm. Unfortunately, that snow can end up re-deposited across your driveway entrance when snowplows begin to clear the roadways. MoDOT has a simple solution to help you avoid a second round of shoveling.

On Friday, the U.S. Senate passed and the President signed into law the first long-term transportation bill in over ten years. The FAST Act (Fixing America's Surface Transportation) calls for spending $305 billion over the next five years for surface transportation. You have undoubtedly heard cheers from both sides of the aisle. As a result of the euphoria surrounding this event, I have been asked about what it means for Missouri.

The biggest reason to cheer is that MoDOT now has some degree of certainty for at least the next five years regarding the federal money for which it is eligible. Over the last 10 years, Missouri and the other states have suffered through multiple continuing resolutions necessary to keep the highway fund solvent and avoid placing the states in default on their obligations. With the expiration of each continuing resolution, there was a risk that Congress might not pass another, meaning there would be no - or at least reduced - funding to states. This makes it very difficult to do the long-range planning essential to a successful transportation program. The FAST Act secures federal funding for the next five years. In this respect, it is a huge improvement over the status quo. But it does not solve the transportation woes for Missouri.

In addition to federal funds, Missouri needs $160 million in new state revenues if it wants to adequately maintain and improve the existing highway system, continue making systematic safety improvements and begin addressing the backlog of 641 critical-condition bridges that need to be rebuilt or replaced. Read More.