Car Seat Check Saturday

It's National Car Seat Check Saturday! Check www.savemolives.com today for a list of where you can have your car seat checked by a certified technician.

Three out of four seats are not installed correctly -- make sure the seat carrying your most precious cargo is not one of them.

Flood of 2011

The Flood of 2011 has been like nothing any other Missouri River states have ever experienced.  Unlike other historic floods which rose and fell within weeks, this time the water flowed continuously over -- and in many cases under -- the Northwest and Kansas City Area Districts' highways for months. Entire sections of shoulder, pavement and foundation washed away in some areas.

Now, we're working to get flooded routes open as quickly and safely as possible by the end of 2011.

One of the first big steps began Wednesday with the start of emergency contract repairs in Atchison County on Route 136. This is the first of a two-phase project that will be necessary to restore access completely across Route 136 where four large gaps exist. Three of the gaps should be fixed by October 15. The fourth gap is a 600-foot scour hole, but damages cannot be assessed until waters recede.


"We are committed to doing everything possible to get these roads opened as quickly and safely as possible for Missourians," said Don Wichern, MoDOT's Northwest District engineer. "In some areas we are still waiting for waters to recede, but we are spending every available minute planning how to repair and reopen these roads so we can all move forward."

Would you let your child ride on the top of your car? Not likely. And yet so many parents allow children to ride inside a car without being safely buckled -- and many of them may not even know it.

Three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly. How confident are you about yours?

This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week. It's a perfect time to take a moment and get your seat checked. Find a technician near you in Missouri.

Or, visit one of the events held this Saturday for Car Seat Check Saturday.

Taking a few moments to make sure your seat is installed correctly could be life-saving for your most precious cargo.

Can You Do Better?

Hey high school students! Check out this video working to convince teens to buckle up. It won last year's Battle of the Belt Challenge.

Think you can do better? Show us! Sign up today for the Battle of the Belt Challenge for this fall and put your cinematic skills to work.  Who knows? There's more than prizes at stake -- if your video convinces a friend to buckle up, you may save a life.

Make it click by clicking here!

Sept. 11-17 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Look around. Really. Turn away from the screen for a minute and look around the room.

Chances are, the vast majority of items you see were hauled by truck at some point. Flooring, concrete, mail, paint, furniture, light bulbs, clothing, chairs, pens and snacks – it sat behind a truck driver.

Truckers drive 400 billion miles a year in the United States. Most of the time, you never notice them. That’s actually the goal. If you don’t notice them, it’s because the driver is operating safely and courteously.

If you are lucky enough to know a professional driver, ask them about the challenges and joys of the job. There are plenty of both. And no one spins a story quite like a truck driver.

So if you have the chance this week, wave or smile to thank the truck drivers you see. Everyone likes acknowledgement for good work.

Safest Driving Cities

Springfield, Mo., is one of the safest cities in the nation for drivers.

The Allstate Insurance Company released their 7th annual Allstate America's Best Drivers Report. It ranks the nation's 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers.

Springfield ranks seventh, with the average driver going 12 years without collisions.

Springfield has completed several major projects that help keep traffic moving smoothly. The nation's first diverging diamond interchange opened in 2009, with a second opening in July 2010. The award-winning, innovative design helps relieve congestion in a tight area, keeping drivers safer.

This week, Springfield opened the first six-lane highway in southern Missouri on Route 65. The project added a lane in each direction in the median, with a 7-foot-wide median shoulder and a concrete barrier separating the northbound and southbound sides. These improvements will keep traffic moving and motorists even safer.

Based on your travels in the state, which city would you say had the best or worst drivers?

Are We There Yet?

A recent survey of Missouri motorists shows that more Missourians are buckling up - that's great news!

But are we where we need to be?

The national average for seat belt use is 85 percent -- even with the recent three-percent jump in Missouri, we're still at 79 percent.  How comfortable are we to know that 21 percent of motorists in our state face ejection from their vehicle if a traffic crash occurs?

Some vehicle types stand out when looking at seat belt use. For example, pickup truck drivers are among the worst with only 66 percent buckling up. Considering those rockin' trucks also have an affinity to roll, that makes quite a bumpy ride (or flight) for that unrestrained driver.

MoDOT continues to support the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety to support seat belt use and work to make sure everyone makes it click when they hit the road. A primary seat belt law would likely raise our percentage and save lives - 32 states already have this.

In the meantime, make sure you and your passengers are buckled every trip, every time. Learn more about seat belt safety in Missouri at www.savemolives.com.

New and Improved

On Friday, children, families and teachers in Bevier celebrated a safer walk to school.

Through the Safe Routes to School program, the City of Bevier was able to construct needed sidewalks to keep students from walking in the street to get to school. This is a tremendous improvement in safety for these students.

The purpose of the Safe Routes to School program is to enable and encourage more children to walk and bike to school across Missouri. Why is this important? Besides reduced traffic around schools and a healthier lifestyle for the children, the students list one more important reason: it's fun!

Learn more about how Safe Routes to School can get your community moving!

Walking to school can be fun for both students and families!

Bevier now has a safer, more appealing way to get to school.

Livable Streets

In August, 2011 MoDOT in Kansas City hosted the Livable Streets Design Workshop led by nationally known expert Bruce Landis.

On Aug. 25, architects, engineers and planners from MoDOT and communities across the Kansas City District sat down as one transportation group to talk about what it means to build Livable Streets at the Best Practices in Bicycle Pedestrian Design workshop.

Across the country, more communities recognize that drivers are not the only type of transportation, and in fact, more citizens request the safe sidewalks, bike routes and transit options that fit their lifestyle.

In May, the Missouri House of Representatives passed the Complete Streets Resolution, urging cities, communities and state transportation to consider bikers, pedestrians and transit users whenever they planned transportation projects. The Best Practices in Bicycle Pedestrian Design workshop, hosted in partnership with MU Extension, focused on just that -- making streets that accommodate any mode of transportation.

The all-day workshop featured internationally known Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner and Engineer Bruce Landis. His presentation included strategies to make neighborhoods, retail districts and other community settings more walkable, bikable and accessible to all.

“This program was designed to let planners look at a street objectively and see, based on what is going on in the roadway environment, exactly how to design a livable street,” said Landis.

One of the things discussed was what makes a street more livable? It could be as simple as sidewalks and crosswalks. But planners also consider wheelchair ramps, bicycle paths, mixed-use paths that may host joggers and dog walkers alike, bus stops, or even paved shoulders in a rural area.

Several locations joined the workshop via webinar, including Jefferson City, St. Louis District Office, Northeast District, Southeast District Office, Northwest District Office, Southwest District Office and Macon. 

Troubled Waters

Find flooding detour information at www.modot.org/flooding.

Flooding and detours continue in Northwest Missouri. Eleven weeks after Interstate 29 first closed, it still remains closed at Rock Port.

The four states affected by long-term flooding continue to work together to route travelers around the high water. Missouri has partnered with Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska to create a regional detour that can be found on MoDOT's website at www.modot.org/flooding. It also provides information on the latest road closures with a link to the Traveler Information Map.

It will take time to get these roads back in shape, but MoDOT monitors the roads as water recedes to assess damage and begin repairs.

If these routes are part of your holiday weekend travels, be sure to check the detours before you go. And play it safe! Drive sober, buckle up and slow down.

MoDOT Minute

How much are this year's natural disasters costing Missouri? Find out in this week's MoDOT Minute - your transportation news in 60 seconds!

Good for LYF

We found out about an app this week that may help combat texting while driving.

The LYF app rewards you for making the decision to stay safe and focus on your driving. LYF stands for Love Your Family.

The application tracks the use of your phone when your vehicle is moving more than 15 miles per hour. If the phone is in idle status during that time, the owner receive points.

Find out more at www.goodforlyf.com. In the meantime, stay alert and focused when you're behind the wheel!

A Year to Remember

Mother Nature has pummeled Missouri with four unprecedented weather events this year! Listen as Assistant Chief Engineer Don Hillis gets "To the Point" about the monetary damages to Missouri's transportation system caused by this spring and summer's flooding and the Joplin tornado. Learn how these disasters will impact our construction program.

Gotta Get a Gator Getter!

You've seen it before: The slow moving truck with a large flashing arrow pushing you into the next lane. The laborious progression as crews hop from the truck to retrieve the random tire tread, couch cushions, laundry basket, branches or the hapless deer who crossed too soon. It's the debris removal crew snaking through the city, keeping MoDOT routes safe. Now we're testing a new tool that could make that process faster and safer.


It's the Gator Getter! 


Custom built to fit MoDOT's larger truck, this innovative machine scoops up trash while the vehicle travels with traffic at a comfortable 45 to 50 mph. There are only four in existence, and this is the only one in the U.S.


Because the Gator Getter operates in the midst of traffic, MoDOT no longer has to provide traffic control or close a lane while removing debris from the highway.  That means fewer delays for motorists and safer conditions for workers. 


If only I could get a smaller version for my living room!


During the testing phase, MoDOT crews are offering feedback to the company to make the product stronger and more versatile to handle the array of trash types and sizes. The next version will likely have a different style of blade and heavier body.


MoDOT crews pick up debris year-round, which can range from general car trash to pieces of furniture. One of the most common items - tires and tread - is actually separated and turned over to Missouri Vocational Enterprises so it can be shredded and reused as tire-derived fuel for power plants.


Find more details about this innovation below and watch the Gator Getter in action!

What's The Buzz?

Wondering if you can handle your drive home after a drink with some friends? There's an app for that.

The Show Me My Buzz app is available for download and lets you calculate your blood alchohol level before you decide to get behind the wheel. It's available now in the Android market and will be available through the iPhone app store soon.


“Show Me My Buzz” allows users to calculate their BAC based on how may drinks they have consumed, how long they have been drinking and their gender. It will even provide the phone number of a local cab company with just a tap of the screen.


The BAC calculator is only a guide that estimates averages.  Alcohol affects everyone differently.  Influencing factors include food consumption, medication, health and psychological conditions.  The best plan is to always designate a sober driver. A sober driver is someone who has not had anything to drink.


In 2010, 207 people were killed and 831 seriously injured in crashes involving a drunk driver.


Download today and let us know your thoughts!


Disclaimer: This blood alcohol concentration (BAC) calculator is only an estimate and is not sufficiently accurate to be considered legal evidence. The calculations are averages. Individuals may vary in their personal alcohol tolerance. Food in the stomach, medications, health and psychological conditions are influencing factors. Many establishments that serve alcohol serve portions larger than the standard drink size.

MoDOT Minute

Grab the latest Missouri transportation news, in 60 seconds!

Hybrid Composite Beams

If it works for boats, why not for bridges?


As part of its Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program, MoDOT received a $1 million federal "Highways for Life" grant to utilize hybrid composite beams on three bridge projects -- in Douglas, Shannon and Dade Counties. These innovative structural elements are much lighter than conventional steel or concrete beams, which make them easier to transport and install. The exterior of HCBs is fiberglass, materials also used to construct boats and sulfuric acid storage tanks. The fiberglass makes them more resistant to water and chlorides, and therefore longer lasting.


Check out some photos and the video below that explains this technology. Happy Sailing!







http://www.flickr.com/photos/modot/sets/72157627384391038/

Save the date for Livable Streets Workshop

A few years ago, I traveled to Minneapolis for a work-related meeting. Venturing out to find a restaurant and explore the area around my hotel, I was quickly impressed to see dedicated bicycle lanes on their busy downtown streets.

Back at home, Jefferson City now has better options for walkers and peddlers with the new pedestrian/bicycle attachment to the Missouri River bridge. It gives bikers and walkers a safer connection between downtown and the Katy Trail – now noted as the best bike trail in the Midwest!

If you are interested in making your community more accessible to those who prefer to walk or ride a bicycle to work or shopping or just for fun and exercise, then you won’t want to miss the Best Practices in Bicycle Pedestrian Design workshop MoDOT is hosting in partnership with MU Extension later this month.

The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on August 25 and will feature nationally known Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner and Engineer Bruce Landis. His presentation will focus on strategies for transportation designers that make neighborhoods, retail districts and other community settings more walkable, bikable and accessible to all. If you are a planner, architect or engineer attending the workshop, you can even earn continuing professional education credits.

The workshop will be broadcast in a webinar fashion from a live presentation at MoDOT’s Kansas City District Office at 600 N.E. Colbern Rd., Lee’s Summit. It will be simultaneously televised for public attendance at seven additional MoDOT locations including Jefferson City, Chesterfield, Hannibal, Sikeston, St. Joseph, Springfield and Macon (see news release for physical addresses).

Registration is required and will cost $25, with a reduced registration of $10 for students. Lunch is included. Click here for more information or to register online.

Secret Word Facebook Contest

The Missouri State Fair has begun! MoDOT hopes to see you at the Transportation Exposition Center and Highway Gardens this year, and we'll have a contest running to encourage you to join in the fun.

Beginning on Saturday, August 13, check our facebook page anytime after 9 a.m. We will post a secret word. If you're at the fair that day, find a MoDOT staffer at the Highway Gardens who is wearing a Hawaiian lei. The first person to tell that MoDOT staffer the secret word will win!

The contest runs on five days - August 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. Some of the days will have multiple prizes -- those who share the secret word first get their pick, the others pick from what's available.

So check our facebook page, beginning Saturday!! A list of prizes is included in our rules, and includes tickets to the sold-out Jason Aldean concert, Luke Bryan, Carnival of Madness, the Truck & Tractor Pull and the Demolition Derby.

Don't miss the fun! We'll see you at the fair!

500 Bridges, Safe & Sound!

One year ago, we were celebrating the completion of the 200th bridge constructed under the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.

Yesterday, that number climbed to 500.  Before the program is complete by the end of 2012, more than 800 bridges across Missouri will be rehabilitated or replaced.

We're more than halfway there! Better yet, the average closure of bridges across the state has been about 40 days -- that's half the time a typical bridge replacement takes.

Project of the Year

The nation's first diverging-diamond interchange in Springfield has been named a Public Works Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association.  

The interchange has been receiving widespread attention since it was completed in 2009. This type of interchange was first used in France, and has been shown to increase capacity, decrease congestion and minimize the cost of new infrastructure.

More diverging diamond interchanges are happening in Missouri, including a second interchange in Springfield, as well as projects in Kansas City, St. Louis and mid-Missouri.

If you're wondering just exactly how they work, watch below. Driven through one already? Let us know what you think!

All aboard for the Missouri State Fair

In years past, my family and I have attended the Missouri State Fair. The trip there is always filled with anticipation for the fun we will have. But, after a long day of walking the fairgrounds in the sun, looking at exhibits, riding rides and tasting interesting fair foods, no one feels like driving home.

There is a simple solution – the Amtrak Missouri River Runner!

Amtrak runs between St. Louis and Kansas City with morning and evening stops in Sedalia by eastbound and westbound trains every day. If you don’t live in one of the metro areas, you can catch the train in Lee’s Summit, Independence, Warrensburg, Jefferson City, Hermann, Washington and Kirkwood.

By leaving the driving to the River Runner conductor, you can sit back and relax in a big comfortable seat, read the paper, catch up with the kids and even enjoy a snack from the dining car on your way there.

Plus, when you arrive you won’t have to worry about parking. A city bus is available to take fairgoers from Sedalia’s newly remodeled station to near the fair’s main gates for just $1.25.

Once you get inside the gates, stop by MoDOT’s Highway Gardens and visit the Amtrak table. You can enter to win Missouri River Runner tickets for another tranquil trip!

So, come on out to the State Fair on August 11 – 21. This year, it’s a Show-Me Thing! Let Amtrak Missouri River Runner show you a great way to get to Sedalia.

Check Amtrak schedules and fares, visit www.amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL.

Enter the Barrel Bob State Fair Contest

If you were hoping to see an eleven-foot-tall barrel man at the Missouri State Fair this year, look no further than the MoDOT Highway Gardens. He will be the orange-and-white striped figure towering over all of us reminding you to slow down and pay attention in work zones.

Barrel Bob wants to make sure you don't get lost on the way to visit him at the Missouri State Fair, so he's giving you an opportunity to win a Garmin nuvi donated by WHHL/Hot 104.1.

Fashion a likeness of Barrel Bob in any medium. Draw a picture, sculpt him from macaroni, paint him, it doesn't matter! Upload your photo to his Facebook page, and you will be entered to win the GPS. You have until his official debut at the State Fair on Aug. 11 to enter. Check out the official rules here.

Ready, set, DRAW!

Bottleneck Be Gone

By definition, a bottleneck is something that halts free movement and progress. While it may not be a term we like to see associated with any mode of travel, bottlenecks still do exist on Missouri's main passenger rail corridor.

The good news is that MoDOT, Union Pacific, Amtrak and other partners are working together to eliminate these trouble spots.

In accordance with this goal, MoDOT recently signed a service agreement with Union Pacific Railroad that will allow work to begin on Missouri’s first rail infrastructure project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – a second rail bridge over the Osage River.

The project will eliminate the last bottleneck on the eastern segment of the St. Louis to Kansas City rail corridor that sometimes causes delays for freight and Amtrak trains between Jefferson City and St. Louis.

The agreement was made following extensive negotiations between MoDOT, UP, Governor Jay Nixon’s Office and several other agencies, including the Federal Railroad Administration.

Don’t look for dirt to start flying quite yet though. MoDOT and UP will need to develop the construction plan before work can begin. Construction is expected to begin this fall, but prolonged flooding could push the start date into the spring.

This project, along with others Missouri has received funding for, will continue to alleviate remaining bottlenecks that cause congestion on the state’s major rail corridor. In turn, these improvements will make rail transportation safer and more reliable with a greater capacity for delivering both passengers and freight.

Missouri Teen Battles Distracted Driving With Her Song

Kori Caswell

A Missouri Teen has won second place in a national contest focused on stopping distracted drivers. Kori Caswell, 17, of Hannibal, shared a life-saving message in her song "On the Road, You Can Make Or Break Your Dreams" as part of the Ford Driving Skills for Life "Belt It Out" song contest.

Hear Kori's winning song and check out the other winners at www.drivingskillsforlife.com. She received a $3,000 savings bond as her prize.

The contest involved 520,000 public votes and final judging by Shawn Wilson, president of Usher's New Look Foundation. The public selected the five finalists on www.drivingskillsforlife.com, and Wilson chose the first, second and third-place winners.

Congratulations Kori!

Barrel Bob Praise

Today we're sharing some Barrel Bob praise from the KC area. Want to show him some love? Visit Bob on facebook!  

Missouri River Runner Restored to Full Service

Amtrak will restore full service between Kansas City and St. Louis today.  The Missouri River Runner will resume operating both daily intrastate round trips. The round-trip being restored is Train 311, the morning westbound train from St. Louis, and Train 316, the afternoon eastbound train from Kansas City.

Service was reduced to a single round-trip on July 2 due to the diversion of additional Union Pacific Railroad freight traffic from flooded tracks onto the Union Pacific route used by the Missouri River Runner trains west of Jefferson City.  

New Commissioner

Joseph Hunt of St. Louis was sworn in today as the newest member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Chief Justice Richard B. Teitelman administered the oath of office in a ceremony at the Civil Courts Building in St. Louis.  Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Hunt to the commission post on June 30.

Hunt is the general president emeritus of the Ironworkers International and has served as an official in the building and construction trades for more than 40 years.  He has served as a board member of the Lambert St. Louis International Airport Commission, as a member of the National Heavy and Highway Alliance, and on the regional committee of the National Infrastructure Alliance. 

Hunt's term ends March 1, 2017.  He replaces David Gach of St. Joseph, whose appointment expired in March.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission is a six-member citizens' panel that governs MoDOT.  It can have no more than three members from any one political party.  Hunt is a Democrat.  Members are appointed to staggered six-year terms by the governor and must be confirmed by the senate. 

Other members of the commission are Grace Nichols, St. Charles, chair; Rudy Farber, vice-chair; Neosho; Joe Carmichael, Springfield; Stephen Miller, Kansas City and Kenneth Suelthaus, St. Louis.

More People Are Riding the River Runner

More and more people are riding the rails to their destinations. Ridership for Amtrak Missouri River Runner trains was up by 16 percent for the fiscal year ending June 30 – or an additional 25,811 passengers compared to the previous year. What’s behind the good news?

With gas prices higher than they were last year, and in constant fluctuation, more people are choosing the train for its convenience and because it is an economical way to travel. After all, a round trip adult ticket between St. Louis and Kansas City is as low as $56 and there is no early arrival required or getting stuck in traffic. You can even take your golf clubs or a bicycle along for a small fee.

With new infrastructure upgrades completed and others planned for the future, the train has become a more reliable way to go. Missouri River Runner trains reported an 89 percent on-time performance rate on average for FY ’11. (Note: Unfortunately, flooding has caused a disruption of one round-trip train across Missouri each day. Service is expected to be restored soon.)

The train is a friendly way to travel, too. In May, the Missouri service received a 97 percent satisfaction rate, the second best among state supported and other short distance corridors.

So, what are you waiting for? Get on board the Missouri River Runner for your next business trip or family vacation.

Secret Word Contest

Beginning today and for the next four weeks, watch our facebook page for your chance to win tickets to the sold-out Jason Aldean concert at the Missouri State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 13!

We'll ask you to tell us the secret word each Monday (and we'll tell you how to find it) until the fair and randomly select a winner from the correct facebook responses. 

You have until noon tomorrow (July 19) to enter for this week. Check out www.facebook.com/modotstatewide to see how Barrel Bob can help you win Jason Aldean tickets!

2011 State Fair Contest Rules

Adaptive Traffic Signals

Don't you love that feeling when you're driving through a series of intersections and have to stop at each red light? We don't either.

Adaptive Traffic Signals to the rescue. This technology has been introduced in Lee's Summit, and drivers are loving it.

How does it work? The key component involves video cameras set up at each of the intersections, keeping track of vehicles and helping the system to think.

Congestion has been greatly reduced, and local law enforcement says there has been a reduction in traffic crashes and red-light running. Plus, savings in emissions and fuel consumption is a bonus for both the environment and your bank account.

Watch below to see exactly how these traffic signals are helping a community run more safely and with less headaches.

A New Day in Transportation

Sunrise on Route 87

A new state five-year highway construction program was approved yesterday by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission -- or, at least, half of one.

The new program is only half the size of recent years, at $600 million. That sounds like a great deal of money to many of us, but the average program has been $1.2 billion. With funding cut in half, Missourians will see a difference in the transportation upon which they depend.

"We'll continue to honor our commitments and maintain the condition of our roads and bridges to the best of our ability for as long as we can," said MoDOT Director Kevin Keith. "But without additional resources our system will eventually get worse."

We're focused on delivering commitments that have been promised, which means keeping major highways in good condition, improving smaller state roads and keeping up with bridge repairs and maintenance. We're cutting internal costs with our Bolder Five-Year Direction and putting all resources available to road and bridge maintenance.

Is that the answer? No. It's only a temporary fix. A long-term funding solution is needed in order to address economic development opportunities, deliver improvements or replace major bridges.

What funding solution would you support for Missouri?

MoDOT Hauls Out the Big Bags

Now, that's a sandbag.

In my house, when I mention big bags, it usually is in reference to my lack of sleep, but here at the department Big Bags take on a whole new meaning.

With the recent flooding problems across the state, MoDOT is trying a new tool to keep water off the roads and motorists safe. Big Bags are large sand bags -- really large -- that unfold like an accordion to create a 15-foot long, 3-foot high by 3-foot wide storage compartment for sand. One system of Big Bags takes the place of 500 sand bags.

They were tested for the first time in the southeast area in the spring when flooding was a problem, and now they’re being used on the west side of Route 65 between Carrollton and Waverly for a two-mile stretch.

Remember playing with Legos? Well, these work much the same way. A chain of dumpster-sized bags can be attached, filled with sand and built upon to create floodwalls quickly and easily. The bags are made of tightly woven polypropylene with wooden frames screwed together. Each system weighs only 50 pounds when empty, but when deployed they are filled with 2,800 -3,500 pounds of sand, depending on its moisture content. The bags are filled with the help of a conveyer system created during their recent use in the southeast area.

MoDOT was has 480 systems available to use when needed. Check out pictures of these Big Bags on MoDOT's Flickr site or watch a video of the Big Bags getting placed along Route 65.

Modot Minute

This week's MoDOT Minute shares how modot.org has been revamped to reflect the new seven-district structure and announces Michelle Teel as MoDOT's new Multimodal Director. Catch the MoDOT Minute each week for your latest transportation information!

How Do You Pour Concrete Under Water?

Bridges have always amazed me. As someone who works with engineers but does not have that background, the process of constructing a bridge just seems incredible. My burning question has always been about how the foundation is built and holds strong. Really, how DO you pour concrete under water?

How do you pour concrete underwater?

My question has been answered, and with a neat little graphic to boot. The New Mississippi River Bridge project in St. Louis is offering a virtual tour that answers all of your questions about how these massive structures take shape. Don't miss the pictures of the coffer dam, where crews are able to work on the riverbed.

If you're in the St. Louis area, you can see these steps in person. On the last Friday of each month, schedule a tour where you can see the action up close. Check out the specifics here. 

Light Up the Sky

D5411_CM_03, a photo by MoDOT Photos on Flickr.

The new Christopher S. Bond Bridge in Kansas City took on a whole new light on July 3, and it became a real blast.

The bridge features a unique lighting system with a series of interconnected color-changing panels - 106 of them - able to display thousands of colors in a variety of patterns. There are nine lighting packages that can be used throughout the year to reflect the city's seasons, holiday and regional events.

The inaugural lighting debut kicked off just minutes before the fireworks extravaganza celebrating KCRiverFest over the Fourth of July holiday.

Don't miss the rest of these photos on Flickr!

State Agencies and Midwest DOTs Unite to Battle Flood

The water is rising. Roads and interstates are disappearing beneath the widening banks of the Missouri River. Levees are holding, but nature will soon test their strength.

There is only so much you can do: pile up sandbags, reroute traffic, hope the levees hold.

And let people know what’s going on.

In fact -- at this stage of the fight -- information is your best defense. The more people know, the better they can react. To shore up this defense, MoDOT is sending out news releases, e-updates, Facebook announcements and blog postings to make sure we’re reaching as many people as possible.

And we are not alone in this task. In an unprecedented level of cooperation, Missouri has joined forces with three other state departments of transportation to unify our message and give travelers throughout the Midwest a heads up before they drive into a problem.

If you visit www.modot.org/flooding you will see not only Missouri flood information, but up-to-date reports from Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. There is even a regional detour for travelers who are making their way cross country. Links to detours, news releases and flood predictions from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources are also included on the page.

The rising water pays no attention to our state borders. It doesn’t care if a traveler is from Iowa or Missouri or Nebraska or Kansas. We have to answer the threat with the same strategy. If Nebraska and Iowa DOTs can reach Missouri travelers before there’s a problem, they might save someone’s life. If we share our message with their travelers, maybe someone will pick it up before there’s trouble on the road.

MoDOT would like to thank our fellow DOTs -- and all the Missouri state agencies including SEMA, the National Guard, the Highway Patrol, DNR -- who are contributing to our fight against the flood.

The sandbags may hold the swelling banks at bay, but information is your first line of defense.

Happy Fourth of July!

If you gotta go, go big. This explosive video is two years old, but makes just as big of a bang today.
Happy Fourth of July!

Minimizing Your Headaches

You have enough to worry about this weekend. Between your children running around with lit sparklers, keeping enough snacks and sunscreen on hand for the family picnic or pool gathering, and the lines for leaving the fair after viewing the fireworks downtown, you'll likely need a holiday from your holiday when July 5th rolls around.

We're here to help as much as we can. From noon tomorrow until next Tuesday, MoDOT will limit the amount of work happening on the roads. It's a busy weekend for travelers and we don't want to keep you from your watermelon-eating contest at the fair any longer than necessary.

We can't completely remove the orange cones - you might run into limited construction and lane closures. But we can help there, too -- plan for those by visiting our Traveler Information Map.

Keeping you a bit less frazzled helps us all. Last year 13 people were killed on Missouri roads over the Independence Day holiday. We're asking you to stay safe over the weekend and follow these tips:

• Buckle up - every trip, every time - safety belts save lives!
• Don't drink and drive -- no question, it's just dangerous, no matter how little you've had to drink.
• Slow down, pay attention and stay alert -- just like Barrel Bob says! You can check your cell phone later, and arriving alive is a crucial component of your fourth of July fun.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

Signal Crews

Just a day on the job -- below are some great shots of signal crews working at Route F and Westminster in Fulton, Missouri. Find the full set here. I wonder how high it really seems up in that bucket!

Have you encountered a flashing yellow arrow yet? 

Those signals sure don't look so big when you're driving, do they?

Timing truly is everything.

Over Troubled Waters

This video takes you from St. Joseph to Forest City, Mo. via a Blackhawk helicopter. It gives you a true sense of the devastation caused by the record-setting floods along the Missouri River.



MoDOT is partnering with Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska to provide road closure and detour information to travelers. Visit www.modot.org/flooding for the four-state map, as well as a list of Missouri detours, flooding preparedness information and how to travel safely around any flooded areas you encounter.

Safe travels!

What Are Your Dreams?

"On the Road, You Can Make or Break Your Dreams." 

No doubt, dreams can end in an instant with distracted driving. But one teen in Hannibal is working to change that through a song.

Kori Caswell is one of 10 finalists in the Belt It Out contest, presented by Ford Motor Company through its Driving Skills for Life program. You're invited to vote for the top finalists. Visit drivingskillsforlife.com to vote for Kori today and to show your support for teens driving without distractions.



Distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes in Missouri and nationwide.

Don't let your dreams be broken.

As Kori sings,

     "Keep both hands on the wheel, face straight forward, and turn your cell phone off....on the road, you can make or break your dreams."

MoDOT Minute

Don't miss this week's MoDOT Minute for information on keeping up with the rising water in Missouri and how you can beat the HEAT.

Summer Floods, What Can We Do?

This week, Assistant Chief Engineer Don Hillis get to the point in our weekly podcast about what we do for flooded roads and how we can help prepare for more water this summer. Listen to this week's To The Point.

It appears flooding is here to stay for the summer, and we'll do our best to make sure your travels are affected as little as possible. There are many resources out there for flooding information -- one that you can check any time for road information is our Traveler Information Map.


For us, it's all about the little red icon and how we make sure it doesn't keep you from your summer activities.

From the map, click the Current Flood Information link for detours and other information about preparing for a flood.

Other great resources include:

Official Missouri State Website

Department of Natural Resources facebook page

Missouri Flood Info facebook page

It's Not Necessary

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is working with automakers and pushing for them to create campaigns against texting while driving. The ad above is from BMW - and makes a clever point to all of us parents out there who worry about so many details, but perhaps risk missing the big picture.

LaHood is also asking automakers not to add features that distract drivers -- like facebook and twitter. Says Lahood, "It's not necessary."

In a recent article on Mashable.com, Todd Wasserman asks the question about whether LaHood is standing in the way of progress or working to rightly curtail driving distractions. What do you think?

Wish smart phones so readily available and tempting drivers with the latest social update, would it be safer to have a gadget provided by the auto manufacturer, so that at least drivers weren't holding their phones? Or, is this a path that can only lead to increased injuries and death on our roads?

Near Miss

Today I had a close call. On my drive to work, I needed to make a left turn. Before turning, I looked in both directions and saw that it was clear. But as I began to make my turn, I nearly ran into a motorcyclist coming from the right. Though the road had appeared clear of vehicles, I needed to look more closely.

As someone who promotes traffic safety, that's a bit embarrassing. I was shaken, but perhaps not nearly as much as the man on the motorcycle. It was a relief to know we could both head in our separate directions and go about our morning, but it certainly did drive home a valuable lesson.

Even when you've looked, look again.

And to the motorcyclist out there in Jefferson City this morning, I offer my sincere apology.

Slam Dunk

Sometimes we all do stupid things. Today we’re releasing a new video that shows a kid who’s challenging another guy in a basketball game and betting his dad’s car. Unfortunately for the kid, the other guy is like three feet taller than him. It reminded me of when I was in college and would play pickup basketball games with some of the MU men’s players.

Ok, I’m tall for a woman, but at 5’9” there’s probably still about a foot difference between me and some of those guys. And, if I’m being truthful here, I wasn’t that good either. So, I fouled a lot and ended up with a few chipped teeth… but at least I didn’t bet my dad’s car. It was fun, but probably still kind of stupid. Still, it wasn’t near as stupid as not buckling up. Luckily for me, I always wear my seat belt, and that's a slam dunk for my safety.

Unfortunately for 24 percent of Missourians, they still don’t buckle. In fact, seven out of 10 Missourians killed in traffic crashes are unbuckled. It’s sad, really. It takes a couple of seconds to click your seat belt, and it can save the rest of your life.

In my life, I have a list of stupid things I’ve done about a mile long, but forgetting to buckle up isn’t one of them. So, please Buckle Up and Arrive Alive!

Parents Hold the Keys to Keep Teen Drivers Safe

Recently during a visit with my mother, my son asked if she’d consider giving him her new VW convertible for his 16th birthday. It made us all laugh of course, especially since he’s only 12 this summer. But, then I started thinking about how it really isn’t all that far off for him to drive and I quit laughing.

For parents of teens who are already driving though, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the deadliest for drivers ages 15-20. And, according to an analysis of crash data completed by AAA, seven of the top 10 deadliest days of the year on the roads for teens occur between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays.
Summer just started, and while we’re all focused on what to do to make this year memorable and fun, we may want to also focus on making it a safe summer for our teen drivers too.

To keep safe, parents should encourage teen drivers to use the following tips:
• Buckle up
• Don’t drink and drive
• Don't speed
• Avoid distractions
• Restrict Night Driving
• Establish a parent-teen driving agreement
• Set a passenger limit

Visit savemolives.com for a teen driver’s guide and other info. So remember parents, you hold the keys to keeping your teens safe. Buckle Up and Arrive Alive.

Roadside Lullaby

I’ve been interacting with truck drivers and other folks who work in the trucking industry through MoDOT Motor Carrier Service’s Facebook page ***SHAMELESS PLUG *** - www.facebook.com/modotmcs - for several months. I’ve learned several things.

What I think is interesting is sometimes met with, well, not really silence. It’s more like deep sighs and the sound of crickets.

Some drivers spend their windshield time thinking of ways to tease MoDOT employees. Yeah, Tony. I said it.

Sometimes, when I pass along news I think won’t go over well, drivers take it better than I expected. Case in point – I reported that the Wright City rest areas, including truck parking spots, will be closed for two weeks in June while the plumbing is completely overhauled. The first comment was, “At least you’re fixing them instead of shutting them down.” Wow. I thought that kind of inconvenience would merit a gripe or two.

Want to make a driver happy? Let them know that MoDOT added 124 truck-parking spaces in one day when the Marston and Hayti Welcome Centers opened. Want to make them cry tears of joy? Let them know more are on the way near Mineola, Mo.

It surprises a lot of folks that something as simple as finding a place to park or take a break from the road is a passionate subject for truck drivers. I know I learned a lot when I started looking into it.

In some places, states are so strapped for funding, they’ve closed rest areas. Completely. Nearly all of them.

No worries, some think, they’ll just go to a truck stop to rest. And they do. But so do the other several hundred drivers out there. In and out. All night. Starting motors. Hissing airbrakes. Then the knocking. Entrepreneurs of the illegal stripe like to hang out in some truck stops and knock on drivers’ doors. All night.

Drivers can strike out for a quieter locale, but is it safe? Stories abound of folks being assaulted, robbed, even killed after parking in an area they didn’t know was dicey.

MoDOT’s funding issues are well known. It’s not like we’ve got wads of cash. But we’ve nearly doubled the number of State-provided safe, quiet truck parking spaces in the past six or seven years.

How? It’s been a matter of taking advantage of situations. Weigh station no longer needed? Knock it down and make it a truck parking area. Ditto for obsolete rest areas. Have the opportunity to blend state and federal funds to build a welcome center? Configure it to separate trucks from cars and squeeze as many truck spots as possible into the footprint. When we add truck parking, drivers use the facilities and take good care to keep them clean and safe.

If you have any doubts whether making truck parking a priority is a good call, ask yourself this question:

Do I want to be on this highway with a truck driver who didn’t sleep well?

Sweet dreams, driving pros. Rest easy.

Bolder Five-Year Direction Approved

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission unanimously adopted a plan today that will make MoDOT a smaller agency so $512 million can be directed to needed road and bridge projects by 2015. The meeting was streamed live, with more than 1,000 viewers tuning in.

The adopted Bolder Five-Year Direction calls for reducing staff size by 1,200, closing 131 facilities and selling more than 740 pieces of equipment. MoDOT will retain a significant presence in Joplin, Macon and Willow Springs, where the three district offices will close. About 70 to 80 employees will remain in each of those areas under the direction of an area engineer.

Other changes include extending the date to make staffing changes from Dec. 31, 2012 to March 31, 2013, adjusting the boundaries of the new seven districts and revisions to the list of facilities to close.

Information detailing the Bolder Five-Year Direction can be found on www.modot.org, including videos of the full meeting.

In a press conference following the meeting, Director Kevin Keith said "we begin tomorrow" to implement the bolder direction.

That Was Stupid - Bomb Squad

I’ve played eenie meenie miney moe many times, but never to deactivate a ticking bomb. Check out our very own MacGruber moment of “That was stupid.”

No. 844

You routed the steam, now have you seen it?

When your votes caused the Little Rock Express route to win the Union Pacific's Route the Steam Excursion contest, we received many inquiries about when the 1940s steam engine, No. 844, would come through Missouri. This week, those fans have had a unique chance to see a piece of living history roll right up to them.

It began early this week in Kansas City, and I was able to catch a glimpse of the engine last night in Jefferson City. I have a picture of my family gathered near the front, dwarfed by the massive engine (with my son, as usual, refusing to look at the camera). I couldn't help but think of it's early routes decades ago as World War II was nearing an end and trains were so heavily relied upon for travel and goods. When people first stood next to that engine, interstates were still more than a decade away.

This morning, I watched as No. 844, with steam billowing, headed east towards St. Louis, where it arrives this afternoon and will be on display tomorrow. Many more stops are scheduled through Monday, June 6, before it crosses into Arkansas. See the schedule here.

I hope you each have a chance to glimpse those clouds of steam in person. 

Safe & Sound Bridge Program Reaches Halfway Milestone

Fourteen new bridges opened to traffic last week, pushing the number of completed Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program projects past the halfway point.

There are now 410 new or rehabilitated bridges that have been constructed all over the state, and on average, another is opening every two days. When completed, the Safe & Sound program will have repaired or replaced 802 of the state's lowest rated bridges. Just this year alone, 80 new bridges have been built.

The program's original goal was to complete 802 projects in five years, or by the end of 2013. At the current rapid pace, the program should be complete a full year early, or by the close of 2012.

So far, 231 new bridges have been constructed under MoDOT's design-build contract with KTU Constructors, and 179 bridges have been rehabilitated through the department's regular monthly lettings.

The average road closure associated with the Safe & Sound projects has been 40 days, or about half the time it normally takes to replace a bridge.

Currently 77 bridges are under construction, with another 12 scheduled to start next week.

Making Impossible, Possible

Moving something that weighs four million pounds seems impossible. Now imagine the four million pound object is 670 feet long and 55 feet above the Gasconade River. Well, MoDOT likes to make the impossible… possible.

The westbound lanes of the I-44 Gasconade River Bridge needed to be replaced and so to minimize motorist impact, MoDOT utilized an innovative method of bridge construction called bridge jacking. This method includes building a new bridge deck on a temporary substructure right next to the existing bridge, and when the new bridge deck is finished, sliding the new addition into place using hydraulics.

This amazing feat closed the westbound lanes of the I-44 Gasconade River Bridge for just 19 days, while traditional bridge reconstruction methods would have closed this same stretch for at least 60 days. Talk about a traffic headache reduction!

What's on Your Stupid List?

Forrest Gump had a way with words. His whole aura was, well – simple. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have deep thoughts.
One of his favorite sayings was “stupid is as stupid does”. That simple statement says a lot in certain situations. Some things are funny, some are just plain STUPID.
What’s on your stupid list? Here are a few of my faves:
Jump out of an airplane with no parachute.
Spend your life savings on a condemned house.
Bang your head against a concrete wall.
Run with scissors.
Climb an electric fence.
Hug a cactus.
Swim with sharks.
Shave your eyebrows.
Go fishing in your bathtub.
Fight Chuck Norris.
By far, one of the dumbest things you can do is riding in a vehicle with NO SEATBELT.
It’s not just stupid. It could leave you injured, paralyzed or dead!


Tell us what's on your stupid list at www.facebook.com/saveMOlives

Buckle Up and ARRIVE ALIVE!