January 27 - MoDOT crews keeping the roads clear in Northeast Missouri

HANNIBAL -- Winters in rural Missouri are often unpredictable. The Missouri Department of Transportation is prepared to work around the clock before and during a winter storm to ensure safe travel for area motorists.
  MoDOT’s Northeast District has the help of more than 300 employees when clearing roads this winter. “We work in 12-hour shifts when a storm like this hits the area,” remarked Area Engineer Mark Giessinger. The Northeast District maintains 3300 lane miles of interstates, primary and secondary roads in 13 counties. “During most storms like this one, we have 150 trucks equipped with plows, salt brine tanks and rock salt spreaders that are used to fight snow, ice and frost,” Giessinger continued.
The first priority for MoDOT snow-removal crews is to clear Interstate 70 and roads on the national highway system like Route 61 and 36. The next priority is to clear other numbered and letter routes.
   “We do a lot of challenging work on our highways, but when it comes to clearing snow, our workers are experienced and prepared to address winter weather no matter how severe,” Giessinger said.      Crews always clear the driving lanes first. After the storm, crews go back to plow the overpasses, ramps and shoulders. Then, they remove snow on the sides of bridges and barrier walls.

February 10 -Repair Contract for Mark Twain Memorial Bridge Awarded

HANNIBAL – The Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation are splitting the cost to replace four expansion joints on the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge this summer.   MoDOT will oversee the project which was recently awarded to APAC-Missouri, Inc. of Columbia, Mo. by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at a cost of $369,873.88.
              The bridge handles an average of about 13,000 vehicles each day.   “We’ve been monitoring the joints in both east and westbound lanes and have found some deterioration,” explained MoDOT Transportation Project Manager Rick Domzalski.   Work may begin after March 15 and is expected to be complete by July 1.
              Traffic will be reduced to one lane on the bridge in each direction while this project is in progress.   The public is urged to use caution in the work zone.