Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) vehicles were involved in over 35 crashes during an ice storm, highlighting the difficulty of treating icy roads. The storm affected the entire state, causing equipment to slide off roads despite efforts to use chains and brine mix. MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna emphasized the unpredictability of ice and the challenges of managing a statewide ice event with limited resources. The department is short roughly 700 workers and faced difficulties with crew members unable to leave their homes. Despite the challenges, MoDOT is warning drivers of possible black ice during the morning commute.
Freezing rain in the Ozarks led to icy road conditions, prompting MoDOT crews to work overnight and resulting in slow traffic and several slide-offs, including a tractor-trailer on I-44 east of Springfield. More than 250 schools across the region were closed due to the icy conditions.
MoDOT prepares for icy conditions in St. Louis, urging drivers to exercise caution and consider delaying travel if possible, while providing tips for safe driving and emergency preparedness. Crews are treating roads and working 12-hour shifts, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol advises extra caution in specific areas. Officials stress the importance of staying informed about changing road conditions and emergency response times, and provide contact information for emergencies.
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration is urging states to stop using humorous messages on highway signs by 2026, citing potential driver distraction, but the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) insists it's already following the rules and will continue to convey fun messages related to highway safety. MoDOT will make small tweaks to comply with the new guidelines, but will still incorporate humor into its messages, despite some pushback from state representatives.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced significant delays in the bridge improvement project on Interstate 55 near Loughborough Avenue. The $63 million project, which aims to rehabilitate 13 pairs of bridges, has been extended into 2025 due to damage to several girders during the surface removal process. The damaged girders will need to be repaired or replaced, causing a delay in the project timeline.
The old Missouri River bridge at Rocheport was detonated on Sunday morning, but the removal process is taking longer than the original 24-hour plan to clear a 300-foot section for waterway traffic. The U.S. Coast Guard, in conjunction with MoDOT, has jurisdiction over bridges over waterways and is monitoring the situation. Currently, there is not enough room cleared for vessels to travel, but no vessels are waiting to pass through. MoDOT will hold a public session on Saturday to address questions and concerns about the bridge's cleanup process.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has successfully detonated the old I-70 Rocheport Bridge as part of its demolition plan. The bridge, which had been in service for over 60 years, was deemed structurally deficient and in need of replacement. The controlled explosion was carried out to ensure the safety of workers and minimize disruption to traffic. MoDOT will now focus on the construction of a new bridge to improve transportation infrastructure in the area.
