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Tom Hale

Majority Of Missouri's Major Roads In Good Condition
April 7, 2008

Good news for motorists in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), building on the success of its Smooth Roads Initiative, continues to make its roads smoother and safer. MoDOT reports that 78 percent of the state's major roads are in good condition, a dramatic jump from three years ago when only 46 percent were judged to be in good condition.

Substantial improvements are noted in each region of the state. For instance, 83.5 percent of major roads in the St. Louis area (Interstates 70, 64/40, 44, 270, 55, 170 and Routes 30, 21 and Page Avenue) are in good condition, compared to 53.6 percent in 2004.

Major roads in the Northeast region (Routes 36, 24, 54, and 61) have been improved -- rising from 56.9 percent in good condition in 2004 to 80 percent in good condition in 2007. In the Central region, 74.6 percent of major roads (I-70 and Routes 63, 54, 50, and 65) are in good condition, compared to 40.2 percent in 2004.

In South Central Missouri, 74.3 percent of major roads (I-44 and Routes 60, 63, 72, and 8) are in good condition, up from 58.9 percent in 2004. And in Southeast Missouri, 73 percent of major roads (I-55 and Routes 60, 67, 72, 53, and 412) are in good condition -- a big leap from the 26.5 percent mark in 2004.

MoDOT says its Smooth Roads Initiative, which improved 2,200 miles of the state's busiest highways in 2005 and 2006, accounts for much of the improved road conditions. MoDOT completed this initiative in December 2006, a year ahead of schedule.

The department also credits its Better Roads, Brighter Future program, which took up where the Smooth Roads Initiative left off. Under the Better Roads program, the remainder of the state's major highways are being improved -- getting smoother surfaces, paved shoulders, wider stripes, and better signs.

By the end of 2011, when the Better Roads program is completed, MoDOT Director Pete Rahn estimates that 85 percent of Missouri's major roads will be in good condition.

Posted by Tom Hale on April 7, 2008 | Comments (0)