Transportation Projects Few and Far Between in Northeast Missouri

Transportation Projects Few and Far Between in Northeast Missouri

HANNIBAL – Just like the rest of the state, Northeast Missouri transportation projects will be sparse in the next five years. “We will focus on keeping our roads in good condition, working on our minor roads and maintaining our bridges; there are a limited number of major projects that will be under construction in the next five years,” said MoDOT Northeast District Engineer Paula Gough.
Gough said northeast Missouri will see work on more than 30 bridges next year and sections of US 36 and US 24 will be resurfaced. There will also be some other minor improvements in the district. An improvement will be made at US 61 and West Ely Road/Pleasant Street as a partnership with the City of Hannibal. MO 79 will be relocated near Ashburn where a slide has caused the road to give way, prompting MoDOT to close the road.
“We’ve resurfaced US 61 from the Iowa state line to south of Troy, over the past few years there, and we have an additional interchange that will be constructed 2013 at South Lincoln Drive in Troy,” Gough said. Motorists can expect to see MoDOT maintenance crews working to improve the condition of the minor roads.
Stagnant state revenues, uncertain federal funding and no more money from Amendment 3 voter-required bonds, is causing highway and bridge construction in Missouri to decrease dramatically compared to the previous five years. The five-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was approved by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission last week.
To cope with this funding challenge, the Missouri Department of Transportation has adopted a five-year direction geared toward maintenance. MoDOT will focus on keeping major highways in good condition, improving smaller state roads and keeping pace with needed bridge repairs and maintenance.
Included in the five-year program is a category for projects that are being planned, but there are no funds for construction. This list includes more bridges, some resurfacing, the Hannibal Expressway, a corridor improvement on US 54, a corridor improvement on US 61 in Lincoln County, and resurfacing on I-70.
Active and future maintenance and construction projects are updated regularly online at http://www.modot.org/. More information can also be obtained by calling MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center at 1-888-275-6636.