There’s still some work in progress, but for the most part another MoDOT construction season is wrapping up – a season that thanks to last year’s passage of Amendment 3 was the busiest in MoDOT history. In addition to all the work completed this year, some of the most significant aspects of the 2005 construction program occurred off the roadway.
Following the November 2004 election, MoDOT quickly developed a three-pronged plan to improve Missouri’s most heavily traveled roadways, to accelerate some projects already in the STIP, and to add other major projects to the construction program. In short order, projects were identified, designed, bid and awarded.
“The speed at which we identified needs, designed and rolled out these Amendment 3 projects was truly remarkable,” Director of Program Delivery Dave Nichols said. He noted that one Smooth Roads Initiative project was actually completed before MoDOT received its first penny of Amendment 3 revenue.
But to get all of that work done – SRI projects added to those already scheduled in the STIP – drivers were going to face work zones (roughly 1,000) like never before. Consequently, more emphasis needed to be placed on work zone management and a statewide work zone awareness communication plan that included communicating estimated delays via changeable message boards.
An interactive work zone map – updated daily – that allows motorists to organize their work zone search by trip origin and destination, route or region was added to the MoDOT Web site. Color-coded icons display active sites by degree of delay. Icons can be clicked on if motorists want more detailed information on specific work zones. Text displays describe the duration of the work zone, the type of work and expected lane closures.
Early in the summer, when a project on Interstate 44 near Cuba caused lengthy delays (especially for people from the St. Louis area destined for the Lake of the Ozarks or Branson), a corridor team involving Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 was established to coordinate incident response and work zone management.
“It was the first time that we had looked outside our districts at the effects of work zones,” said St. Louis District Engineer Ed Hassinger. Since then a similar team has been formed for the Interstate 70 corridor. Both teams communicate daily.
“We’ve taken a quantum leap ahead of where we were,” Hassinger said, “but we can get better.”
Message boards are now pre-positioned on both cross-state interstates, and MoDOT will eventually erect permanent boards on I-44 and I-70. Night work to minimize impacts was also increased; 146 projects that required lane closures were done at night in 2005 compared to 87 the year before.
“We have to realize that a work zone is an incident,” Director of System Management Don Hillis said. “The only difference is that it is an incident that we created.”
“We’re making a lot of progress,” said Nichols. “Our roads are getting smoother and our customers have recognized that. But what happened this year is just the start. We’ll make an even bigger impact next year with SRI projects. A lot of what we did this year only laid the groundwork for what is to come. We’re just breaking ground on this massive $7.3 billion program for the next five years.”
While this work poses some inconvenience for Missouri motorists, the end result will be well worth it – smoother, safer highways that save lives, create jobs and improve travel.
