JEFFERSON CITY - Improved roads and innovative projects, including a plan to replace 800 of the state's worst bridges in five years, were among the highlights of the Missouri Department of Transportation's annual report delivered to lawmakers today.

State law requires MoDOT to submit the report to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislators each year.  The document outlines where MoDOT's money comes from and where it's spent.  It also lists completed and future projects and costs.

 "We're pleased to report a great deal of progress in the last year," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn."We experienced our largest construction season ever, and we're hoping Missourians are enjoying the improved roads.  We know they've had to put up with a lot of work zones, and I hope it's been worth it."

Rahn said the passage of Amendment 3 in November 2004 has played a key role in the agency's ability to deliver smoother, safer roads sooner.  The additional revenue the department receives is being used to improve 2,200 miles of the state's busiest highways, speed up key projects and tackle some new construction.

"Our goal is to show Missouri taxpayers we are accountable and able to deliver timely, high quality projects within a budget," Rahn said. 

            Highlights of the report include:

• Announcing plans to improve 800 bridges under the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Plan;
• Moving ahead with two design-build projects:  rebuilding a 12-mile stretch of Interstate 64 in St. Louis and rehabilitating or replacing the Paseo Bridge in Kansas City;
• Implementing new laws designed to keep people safe on Missouri highways, including stronger requirements for children in booster seats and specific penalties for injuring or killing workers in work zones;
• Installing new roadside markers across the state to help travelers instantly determine their exact location and direction of travel on Missouri's interstate highways - a key benefit in an emergency.
• Completing the installation of guard cable on Interstate 70, an initiative that prevented vehicles from crossing the median along this corridor 94 percent of the time in 2005.
• Becoming the first government agency in the nation to test new energy-saving, diesel-electric bucket trucks.
• Exploring the possibility of adding an Amtrak rail line between Springfield and St. Louis to give Missourians an additional transportation option;
• Extending work hours to help motor carriers conduct their business faster and easier, as well as allowing them to register online;
• Launching a new electronic newsletter, ExpressLane, to help keep the public informed about what's going on in transportation.

In addition, an independent audit of the department's financial statements gave MoDOT the highest rating possible for the seventh straight year. 

For a copy of the complete report, please visit the department's Web site at http://www.modot.org/ or call 1-888-ASK-MODOT.

Editor's note:  Recorded comments on this topic from MoDOT Chief Engineer Kevin Keith are available at http://www.modot.org/newsroom.