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HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION REPORT For more information on road construction call 1-888-ASK MODOT. "If it's happening in St. Louis, it's on Saint Louis Front Page." St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com |
ST. LOUIS, MO, April 24, 2008 - Separating trucks from cars on Interstate 70 sounds like a pretty good idea. But how would it work? A new video posted on YouTube explains what truck-only lanes could look like and how they might operate. The video can be found on www.youtube.com/modotvideo "When we talk about dedicated truck lanes, we're often asked how the concept works, especially how vehicles get on and off the highway," Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said. "Because this is a new concept, it's hard to visualize. The video helps people understand possible options." MoDOT is studying truck-only lanes as a way to improve safety and reduce congestion during a future reconstruction and expansion of I-70. As truck traffic continues to increase, Missourians have asked MoDOT to consider separating cars and trucks on the interstate. New technologies have emerged that make that separation more feasible. The study is also being undertaken because of Missouri's key role in the nationally designated "Corridors of the Future" program. By conducting this study now, MoDOT will be positioned to move quickly to address I-70's challenges - either by adding more general-use lanes or by building truck-only lanes - when design and construction funding becomes available. No funding is currently available for this project. "YouTube helps us explain our work in a visual way," Rahn said. "People go to YouTube to see interesting videos, and we're doing some very interesting things we want to show them." Other MoDOT videos on YouTube show dramatic footage of the Route 19 Missouri River Bridge demolition, guard cable crash tests and an aerial view of ongoing construction of the new Interstate 64 in St. Louis. Another helps viewers understand the concept of a shared four-lane highway - a highway with additional passing lanes to ease congestion and improve safety. The Better Roads, Brighter Future program targets highways carrying 80 percent of all traffic on the state highway system, which is 103 million miles traveled a day. When the program is complete at the end of 2011, the improved roads will prevent approximately 85 disabling injuries and save 10 lives every year. Beginning this year, crews will also be working hard on the Interstate 64 construction project in St. Louis, as well as the kcICON project to improve Interstate 29 and Interstate 35 in north Kansas City, including a new Christopher S. Bond Bridge. Work will also begin on the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program, which will improve 800 bridges over the next five years. For more information about construction projects statewide or to access the 2008 statewide construction map, visit www.modot.org or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636). Archived News: |
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