MoDOT to tackle plethora of state road projects

On Sept. 10, the Missouri Department of Transportation approved more than 700 transportation improvement projects to be completed over the next five years. The projects will fall under the $5.8 billion Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and will be undertaken during fiscal years 2005 through 2009 (July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2009), according to a MoDOT news release.

Top on MoDOT’s priority list is addressing the state’s aging highway and bridge system, which will receive about $4.5 billion of the total funds. Beyond that, projects include aviation locations, railroad operations, waterways and public transportation services.

The allocation of funds is planned to balance work to be done on existing road systems with new highway construction. Using criteria such as vehicle miles traveled, lane miles, population and employment, funds will be distributed accordingly.

In Springfield, work will be undertaken on West Bypass and Route 160 from Interstate 44 to James River Freeway. In southwest Missouri, roadwork will be conducted on Route 71 along the western edge of the state, on a two-lane Range Line bypass in Joplin and on Route 65 in Taney County.

“An important element of this transportation program’s development is the extent of local involvement,” said Kevin Keith, MoDOT chief engineer, in the release. “Local communities have had more influence over how their transportation dollars are spent. Local officials each year will review the money available as we work together to make decisions on which projects will be built first.”

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