Fifteen Million Dollars Injected Into Northeast Missouri for Transportation with ARRA Funding

HANNIBAL - More than 120 miles of minor roads in northeast Missouri will receive treatment to improve their conditions as a direct result of funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved $577 million in projects that would be completed using ARRA funding, and an estimated $15 million will be used directly on 13 highway projects in northeast Missouri for resurfacing and other improvements on the road surface.

"We are ready to go with transportation projects that will contribute to creating and saving jobs and jump starting our economy across the state and here in northeast Missouri," remarked MoDOT NE District Engineer Paula Gough. She went on to explain that one of the focus areas of MoDOT's "Ready To Go" package is to improve the condition of the minor roads system. "We have several roads including the resurfacing of Route 15 between Paris and Mexico," she said.  In addition to the resurfacing, the shoulders will be paved and edgeline rumblestripes will be installed, which is a safety device to help keep drivers on the road. The cost of the project is estimated at $750,000. Other roads in the area to be resurfaced include Routes J, W and EE near Mark Twain Lake.  The estimated cost for these three improvements is $800,000. Other road projects can be found online at www.modot.org/northeast.

The majority of Missouri's major highways, like US 61, 36, 19 and 54, are in good condition. "We focused on improving the major roads with Amendment 3 dollars, and Missouri can be proud that 83% of these roads are now in good condition," Gough said.

For more information about the projects that are being funded through the Economic Recovery Act, please go to www.modot.org/northeast or call MoDOT toll-free at 1-888-275-6636.