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Traffic on I-64 near Hanley Road overpass in Richmond Heights, MO on a Sunday afternoon.

Largest-Ever Missouri Road-Building Program Approved
JEFFERSON CITY, (SLFP.com), July 10, 2005 - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has approved the largest construction program in Missouri's history - about 800 projects over the next five years. The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, identifies all transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2006 through 2010 (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2010).

In the St. Louis metropolitan area, all projects approved today are also subject to approval by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. The East-West Gateway Council of Governments is the planning organization for the St. Louis metro area. That organization is conducting public meetings on the STIP this month. The STIP is scheduled to be voted on for approval at East-West Gateway's meeting on July 27.

In November 2004, Missouri voters provided more than $1.7 billion in transportation dollars to MoDOT through Amendment 3, making many additional improvements possible. When added to existing funding commitments for roads, bridges and other transportation modes, the construction program totals $7.3 billion.

The STIP includes projects for highways and bridges, aviation, railroads, waterways and public transportation. The five-year program is updated each year, and as one year of work is completed, a new fifth year is added.

"An important element of this transportation program's development is the extent of local involvement," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. "Local communities have had significant influence over how their transportation dollars are spent. Local officials statewide have been a part of deciding which projects will be built first. We appreciate the help in planning for Missouri's road and bridge improvements.

"This transportation improvement program is an essential part of MoDOT's communication with customers to let them know their investment is being spent on the most important transportation projects," Rahn said.

Currently, 47 percent of the state's major highways are in good or better condition. The additional funding will allow that percentage to increase to 75 percent by the end of the program. Seventy-one percent of the state highway bridges are currently in good or better condition, and by the end of the 2006-2010 transportation program, 75 to 80 percent of the bridges will be in good or better condition.

With the help of Amendment 3 funding, MoDOT plans to complete about 800 projects in the next five years.

In the St. Louis metro area, the draft list of projects for approval include:

Reconstruction of I-64 from Spoede Rd. to Sarah St.
Improve Rte. 40 to freeway in St. Charles County
Improve Rte. 21, completing the new 4-lane roadway to Hillsboro in Jefferson County.
New ramp from northbound I-270 to westbound Rte. 364 (Page Ave.)
Route 364 (Page Ave.) improvements from west of Jungs Station Rd. to west of Harvester Rd.

Statewide projects included in the STIP include:

Improvements to Route 61 in Northeast Missouri, completing corridor from Iowa to St. Louis
Interchange improvements in Kansas City at Interstate 470, Interstate 435 and Route 71 (also known as the Triangle)
Four lane Range Line bypass in Joplin
McDonald County Route 71 improvements and Bella Vista bypass, completing Route 71 corridor from Joplin to Arkansas state line
Camden Route 5 improvements from Camdenton to Laclede County completing Route 5 corridor from Camdenton to Lebanon
Camden Route 54 improvements (Route 54 bypass at Lake of the Ozarks), completing Route 54 corridor from Mexico to Camdenton
Improvements to Route 63 from Macon to Kirksville, completing Route 63 corridor from Jefferson City to Kirksville
Taney County Route 65 improvements, completing Route 65 corridor from Springfield to Arkansas state line
Dallas and Greene County Route 65 improvements, completing Route 65 corridor from Buffalo to Springfield
Moniteau and Cole County Route 50 improvements, completing Route 50 corridor from California to Jefferson City
Improvements to Route 60 from Willow Springs to Van Buren, completing Route 60 corridor from Springfield to Sikeston
Replacement and expansion of Paseo Bridge in Kansas City
Benton Route 65 improvements, completing Route 65 corridor from Marshall to Warsaw
Improvements to Route 67 from Fredericktown to Poplar Bluff, completing Route 67 corridor from St. Louis to Poplar Bluff
Improve interchange of Route 65 and Interstate 44 in Springfield
Improvements to Route 13 at Route 54 (Collins), completing Route 13 corridor from Clinton to Springfield
Extension of Route AC in St. Joseph from Pickett Road to Route 169
Replacement of Missouri River bridge at Hermann
Replacement of Missouri River bridge at Atchison (Amelia Earhart Bridge)

The 2006 - 2010 STIP includes transportation improvements identified by metropolitan planning organizations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and St. Joseph. The STIP projects located in these areas are subject to discussion and approval by the appropriate metropolitan planning organization.

MoDOT strongly encourages drivers to seek an alternate route while this work is under way. Some possible options include I-70, Rte. 364 (Page Ave.), Lindbergh Blvd., Rte. 141, I-64/Rte. 40 or I-170. Motorists can also check real-time traffic information at www.gatewayguide.com.

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