The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has approved plans to improve 802 of Missouri’s lowest rated bridges in five years. However, due to the nation’s volatile credit markets MoDOT will now manage the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program rather than awarding the Design-Build-Finance-Maintain contract that was envisioned when the program was launched two years ago. Here are five things you can tell your family, friends and neighbors about changes to the Safe & Sound Program:

1. At least 100 bridges will be under construction in early 2009. They will be chosen from a list of 248 bridges that are candidates for rehabilitation and will be contracted using a modified design-bid-build process.

2. The remaining 554 bridges in the program will be packaged in a single Design-Build contract. MoDOT will seek proposals this fall and award a contract in late spring 2009.

3. All 802 bridges will be improved within five years. Complete lists and maps of the bridges on the program can be found on the MoDOT Web site at www.modot.mo.gov/safeandsound

4. MoDOT owns the proposals developed by Missouri Bridge Partners and Team United during the initial procurement process and may use their technical concepts, designs, schedules, etc. as the project moves forward.

5. As before, most of the 802 bridges will be closed during construction to minimize cost and speed the work. MoDOT will develop detours on state routes only. Each bridge will be identified by "Safe & Sound" signs that will be erected by Oct. 31.