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MoDOT warns motorists to watch out for summer work zones
No work planned over Memorial Day weekend
To help ensure summer travels are as carefree as possible, MoDOT has developed a list of significant work zones to be on the lookout for this summer. Drivers will encounter delays in work zones on Interstate 70 and Interstate 44 for resurfacing and bridge repairs across the state. Lane restrictions are also expected on several other interstates including I-35, I-435, I-55 and I-270 as well as the Route 54/63 bridge construction over the Missouri River in Jefferson City. The majority of the construction work is for pavement and bridge repairs.
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Check MoDOT's Traveler Info Map for weather-related road conditions, flood closures and work zone locations.
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While most work zones will not be active over the Memorial Day weekend, it may be necessary for some lane closures to remain in place. Most routine work zones will stop at noon Friday, May 27 and will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 31.
"Driving too closely and driver inattention are the top two causes of work zone crashes," said MoDOT's Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger. "Please pay attention, put down your phone and drive safely in work zones. Take turns merging with the other drivers on the road. We want you and our workers to make it home safely."
Motorists should pay attention to all signing, follow the posted speed limits and take turns merging every other car, like a zipper, where lanes are closed. Always wear safety belts, and be alert for slowed traffic, narrowed lanes or a reduced number of lanes. Many of these work zones may cause congestion and traffic delays especially during the peak travel times of daily rush hours and weekends including Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
The following list provides information on how the major interstate work zones will affect travel and for how long. Information on all MoDOT work zones statewide is available up to a week in advance on the department's Traveler Information Map located at www.modot.org. The map is available as a free app available for iPhone and Android phones. The map also displays current traffic speed conditions and live camera views. Motorists can also call MoDOT's 24/7 customer service toll free at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).
Major traffic impacting work zones list for 2016
MoDOT's work zone awareness webpage
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How Are We Doing? Rate Our Work Zones
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All motorists traveling through a work zone this summer are encouraged to participate in the online survey - Rate Our Work Zones - not while driving though! |
Have you checked out visitmo.com, Missouri's one stop shop for summer fun? Here's just some of what you'll find:
- Things to do
- Kid friendly vacations
- The great outdoors
- Arts and entertainment
- Romantic getaways
- Places to stay
- Trip ideas
- Deals and discounts
- Download the Missouri tour planner |
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The I-70 Bridge at Garth Ave. is only the second bridge in Missouri to be constructed at a nearby location and then slid into place.
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How to slide a bridge
How do you slide an 800,000 pound bridge into place from a nearby location? It's done very carefully - and with the help of dish washing liquid.
The new Interstate 70 Bridge at Garth Avenue in Columbia is just the second bridge in Missouri to be constructed at a nearby location and then slid into place.
The bridge's 800,000-pound weight is roughly the same as two jumbo jets, so hydraulic jacks and about 15 bottles of dish washing liquid were used to move the 75-foot Garth Bridge. The dish washing detergent is used as a lubricant to help slide the structure along stainless steel plates into its permanent place. It took about 20 workers approximately 8 hours to move the bridge.
Details on the project, including videos and photos can be found here - www.MoDOT.org/ColumbiaBridges. Videos showing the first Missouri bridge slide - the Interstate 44 bridge over the Gasconade River in Laclede County - can also be found there. MoDOT Central District's Facebook and Twitter pages are also good sources for project information.
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Buckle up every trip
Click it or ticket reminds everyone to buckle up every trip, every time, day and night
Longer days and warmer weather mean summer fun is almost here. As you gear up for a weekend excursion, or maybe even a road trip with family and friends, make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up for every trip.
The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is joining with state and local law enforcement for the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign to highlight the importance of buckling up. The campaign runs from May 23 to June 5. Motorists are reminded to slow down, be courteous and obey the laws of the road.
Sixty-two percent of Missouri fatalities since the first of this year have been unbuckled vehicle occupants. Missouri's safety belt use remains consistently below the national average.
Safety belts save lives. Drivers need to take responsibility to buckle up and ensure that everyone in the vehicle has their safety belt on before driving. Wearing a safety belt is the most effective way to reduce injuries and fatalities in a crash. When worn correctly, safety belts can reduce the risk of death for front seat occupants of passenger cars by 45 percent.
Read more - Click It or Ticket
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 Transportation, it's personal
Click the image to watch David Young, Live Production Manager at Tyson Foods in Monett, talk about the economic impact of having a sound transportation infrastructure and the need to expand the Route 60/37 corridors. Check out his personal story.
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Fly away! Six states and FHWA collaborate to enhance pollinator habitat
Reprinted from The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials News Release
Six state departments of transportation and the Federal Highway Administration today signed a memorandum of agreement that will improve pollinator habitat along Interstate 35, a key migratory corridor for Monarch butterflies.
 The Obama Administration last year identified the I-35 corridor as a route along which land along the interstate could be developed to increase plants that would provide refuge and food for monarch butterflies and other critically important pollinating insects.
The memorandum of agreement was signed during the AASHTO Board of Directors meeting in Des Moines. Signatories included FHWA Administrator Greg Nadeau and senior executives from Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
The agreement establishes "a cooperative and coordinated effort to establish best practices and promote public awareness of the monarch butterfly and other pollinator conservation." The parties also will work together to develop a unified branding for I-35, informally naming it the "Monarch Highway."
Read more of AASHTO's news release here -
Fly away
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MoDOT Tidbits
Here are just some of the operations MoDOT crews are doing to maintain our roads and bridges (these are annual amounts):
- Repair over 100,000 linear feet of pipe culverts
- Sweep over 40,000 lane miles
- Repair over 24,000 square yards of concrete pavement
- Repair over 15,000 miles of edge ruts
- Flush over 7,200 bridges at least once
- Repair over 90,000 square feet of bridge decks
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Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270
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