September 30, 2004 - Resurfacing on Route 15 complete

W.L. Miller Company of Hamilton , IL, contractor for the Missouri Department of Transportation, recently completed resurfacing thirty-one miles of roadway in Knox and Shelby counties.  Route 15 was resurfaced with asphalt from the Route 6 south junction near Edina to Route 168 in Shelbyville.

September 20, 2004 - Median crossover to temporarily close at Route 61 and Warren Barrett in Hannibal

As work continues on Route 61 just south of Hannibal, MoDOT and its contractor, Bleigh Construction, will need to temporarily close the median crossover between Warren Barrett Drive and Red Devil Road for up to two weeks.   Weather permitting, the crossover will close on Monday morning, September 27 and will reopen on Monday, October 11 or before.     During this closure, construction crews will widen the pavement in the median and prepare for the underground wiring needed for the future signals.   Concrete islands, used to channelize traffic, may be installed at this time as well.   Another one to two-day closure can be expected later in the fall when the signal posts are installed.

              "Traffic wanting to turn south off of Warren Barrett Drive will have to find an alternate route, as will traffic wanting to turn north off of Red Devil Road," explained MoDOT Operations Engineer Ken Warbritton.   "In addition, those wanting to access Warren Barrett Drive from southbound Route 61 will either need to use the signals at Market Street and US 61 or go up to the next median crossover," he continued.    Motorists heading north on Route 61 needing to turn onto Red Devil Road will need to go the next stoplight at Market Street and Route 61.  

              Changeable message boards will be placed on the sides of Route 61, both north and south bound, alerting motorists of the upcoming closure.

              This week, crews continue to work on widening Route 61 at this intersection by installing additional lanes for turning traffic.   "The entire area will be a work zone for at least a few more months," Warbritton said.   "We appreciate motorists slowing down," he added.

              The City of Hannibal, the Department of Economic Development, and MoDOT are funding the safety improvements which include traffic signals and turn lanes.

              The improvements were deemed necessary after General Mills expanded its location to include a warehouse on Warren Barrett Drive.   Working through the Department of Economic Development, the City, in collaboration with General Mills, applied for and received a grant to improve the intersection because of the increased crossing truck traffic to get between the main plant and the warehouse.   The grant, administered through the City, will pay for half the project, and MoDOT will pick up the other half.

September 10, 2004 - Surface Work Scheduled to begin on Route 19 in Audrain and Montgomery Counties

              HANNIBAL - Weather permitting, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will be resurfacing 17 miles of Route 19 in Audrain and Montgomery Counties from Route 54 south to the Route 161 south junction in Montgomery City beginning the week of September 27.

              The project will consist of milling or removing the top surface of the existing highway and resurfacing.   Also, fabric reinforcement will be applied after milling to seal and protect the roadway, and help extend the pavement life.   This rocess reduces the chance that cracks and other pavement defects will reflect through to the new pavement.   The most noticeable outcome to motorists is a longer lasting, smooth pavement surface.

              It is anticipated that traffic will be reduced to one lane during construction with flaggers and pilot cars controlling traffic through the work zone.   Motorists will encounter rough and uneven pavement at times during construction.   The roadway will be opened to two lanes at the end of each workday.   Changeable message signs will be installed to alert regular traffic when and where work will begin.   Motorists will experience delays along Route 19 during the project; some delays could be up to 15 minutes long.   Alternate routes are suggested.   The work is scheduled to be complete by November 2004.