On Monday, May 20, more than 450 motorcyclists and their passengers traveled through Missouri together as they headed from Ontario, California to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness for veterans’ issues.
With that many motorcycles traveling together in a group that cannot be broken by traffic, it comes down to coordination between the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies to help get them through the state safely. The group, known as Run for the Wall, makes various fueling stops throughout their journey, including one in Columbia. “MoDOT has been involved with traffic management for this event for several years,” said Maintenance Superintendent Mike Belt. “We want to ensure motorists are aware of potential traffic conditions that may occur when this group enters Columbia.”
MoDOT begins meeting with the Highway Patrol and the Columbia Police Department to coordinate for this event two to three months before the group comes through Missouri. Together, the agencies coordinate efforts to minimize traffic impacts, select locations to pre-position changeable message signs to alert motorists of potential slow or stopped traffic conditions, and determine where to stage staffed vehicles, including MoDOT’s Emergency Response Vehicle, along I-70 to ensure motorists are alerted to any upcoming traffic queues.
Run for the Wall
“It’s awesome to see so many people from the Columbia community come out to show their support for the riders and what the ride stands for. It’s heartwarming to see so much patriotism from the community for our veterans, and we’re proud to be a part of keeping everyone safe,” Belt said.
View more photos of the event here, and learn more about Run for the Wall at https://rftw.us.