Almost 500 Miles of Highway Receive New Pavement

Missourians have spoken -- keeping highway surfaces in good condition is MoDOT's most important duty. A smooth driving surface is essential to safe driving at highway speeds and minimizes wear on vehicles.

To keep highways in good condition, MoDOT will provide new driving surfaces on 450 miles of interstates, highways and lettered routes over the summer in more than 73 locations across the nine-county district. The projects may include additional improvements such as in-depth pavement repairs, improved rumble stripes, brighter striping, shoulder work or other improvements.

Over the past few years MoDOT spent millions improving the condition of the most travelled interstates and highways. As a result, 84 percent of these roads are in good condition. Less travelled numbered and lettered routes also need attention. In the past two years MoDOT made progress on minor routes. This year more than 250 miles of the resurfacing projects will continue to improve these farm-to-market routes.

Much of the resurfacing work on interstates is scheduled for night hours. This minimizes travel delays and inconvenience to drivers. For other major roads, the work is scheduled to avoid rush hour and peak travel times.

Some of the repaved routes will receive a little something extra -- shingles. MoDOT was among the first state agencies in the nation to recycle shingles to resurface or rebuild highways, and this month, many of Kansas City’s routes will include asphalt mixtures with recycled shingles.

Since 2005, MoDOT has used enough recycled shingles to roof 36,474 houses, but keeping materials out of landfills is only one aspect of the program. This conservation effort also reduces the amount of petroleum the department needs in asphalt mixes. This summer, several routes will receive the shingle asphalt mix, including I-470, I-70, Route 50, Route 13 and Route 169.

If you drive through resurfacing work zones, tell us about it! Take a work zone survey today.

New Districts Now Available on Web site

Last month, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced the Bolder 5-Year Direction, which includes new district lines. In the Kansas City area, we added Saline and Pettis counties to our borders and Henry County shifted to our Southwest district.

The districts quickly updated their online content to welcome the new counties -- and miles of roadway -- for drivers. 

If you are a frequent visitor to the site, a Facebook fan, Twitter follower, YouTube viewer or use the department's e-update system to get information on road conditions, projects and other happenings, it's easy to update your bookmarks and preferences.

You can find MoDOT's Kansas City District across the web, delivering content in the mode you like best, including:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website
• E-Mail
• Youtube
• Flickr

In addition, the map in the upper right hand corner of the site has been updated to lead to the seven districts' new websites, which provide project information by region and county.  

 The counties included in all but one district - St. Louis - have changed slightly, so it's possible the counties in which you live, work or travel are located under a new district designation.  A list of counties under each district can be found at http://www.modot.org/bolderfiveyeardirection/.

As Summer Heats Up, So Does Work on I-70

This week, crews opened a new ramp from southbound I-435 to Route 40 and it immediately went to work as a temporary detour during closure of the southbound I-435 to westbound I-70 ramp. This kicks off a series of ramps closing over the next two months as part of the I-435 and I-70 interchange improvement project:

• The westbound I-70 ramp to Manchester Trafficway closed July 25 through August 4;
• The northbound I-435 ramp to westbound I-70 will close from August 4 to 19;
• The westbound I-70 ramp to southbound I-435 from August 22 to September 1.

Each closure will have carefully marked detours. The entire project at I-70 and I-435 is on schedule to wrap up by the end of the year. The project is partly funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In addition to this project, additional work is under construction:

• Bridges at Van Brunt, the Benton Curve, 18th Street, KC Terminal Railway and Truman Road will be rehabilitated.
• Route 40 and Sterling Avenue will be reduced to two lanes with occasional ramp closures for bridge rehabilitation through August 2.
• Crews will be resurfacing I-70 between Pittman Road and I-470 through September.

The good news: All of them will finish up this year, leaving the interstate less congested, smoother and ready for the next five to 10 years of growth and use.

What can you do to manuever through this summer?

1. Consider an alternative route to downtown. Route 71 is a good option.
2. Rideshare, rideshare, rideshare. MoDOT has commuter lots in several accessible locations. Mid-America Regional Council offers a rideshare connection to find other commuters who have the same route.
3. Subscribe to the Summer on I-70 project page for instant updates.
4. Alter your work hours to miss the majority of rush hour.
5. Be patient. We are working to improve the entire corridor. It is a short-term inconvenience for long-term rewards.

For complete details on this project, and all MoDOT's summer construction, visit www.modot.org/kc. Or sign up for instant e-mail updates.

If you drive through this work zone, tell us about it! Take a work zone survey today.

Barrel to Bumper on Broadway

How does a crew tear down and completely rebuild a bridge in the center of the city? The answer is very carefully.

Unlike a bridge across a water way, the Broadway Bridge over I-670 spans a major interstate and multiple interstate to interstate ramps, connecting a key corridor through Kansas City. There were no impressive pyrotechnics to bring this urban overpass to the ground. Instead it was dismantled, piece by piece, keeping debris to a minimum. The interstate below was closed for one weekend to give crews an unfettered shot to knock as much concrete down as possible.

But bringing down is never as time consuming as putting it back together again. Crews are working with a very aggressive schedule to have the bridge reopened in time for the first Fall season of the performing arts center.

When crews rebuild a bridge in a more rural setting, they clear an area to store materials, equipment and debris. In an urban setting, crews have to plan carefully. Materials delivered that day must be used that day. For concrete pours, the concrete truck has a pre-appointed time.

Safety is always a concern on a construction project but when you're working mere feet from traffic entering and exiting ramps, it becomes a constant reminder that every little inch counts.

"Many of our construction barriers offer several feet of working room between barrel and bumper," said Matt Killion, Resident Engineer. "But for an urban project, that several feet quickly shrinks to a foot. Our crews have to think twice before even leaning over the barrier too far."

A joint MoDOT and Kansas City effort, the Broadway Overpass project will expand and enhance a key avenue through downtown. The new Broadway Bridge over I-670 will feature open walkways for pedestrians attending events at Bartle Hall, the Power & Light District and the new Kauffman Performing Arts Center.

In addition to 10' sidewalks, the rebuilt bridge also will feature that classic Kansas City art deco style. The original bridge was built in 1966 and approximately 20,000 drivers use it every day. The $4.9 million contract was awarded to local company Clarkson Construction.

For more information, check out the Broadway Bridge project page. For instant updates, click the subscribe button on the page and updates will deliver right to your e-mail.

If you drive through this work zone, tell us about it! Take a work zone survey today.

Route 45 Moves Into the Next Phase

With utility work complete, Stage 1 Phase 1 of the Route 45 widening project between Route 9 and Route K in Parkville, MO draws to a close.  Motorists switched onto new pavement between North Crooked Road and Route K and construction moves into the next phase.

Because this project covers such an extensive section of roadway, MoDOT divided construction into three stages to minimize impact to the local residents and businesses. 

Each stage will include the same four phases and each must be complete before moving to the next. 

Stage 1 -- which is in construction now -- extends between North Crooked Road and Route K from May 2011 through fall 2011.

Stage 2 will be constructed from Route 9 to The National roundabout, and Stage 3 will be constructed from The National roundabout to North Crooked Road.  All work is expected to be done by spring 2013. 

In each stage, residents will see four phases, which include readying the road for widening, pre-pavement work such as grading, concrete work to build the lanes and median clean up. Once one stage is completely finished, crews move onto the next. For more details on each phase, check out the project page on www.modot.org/kc.

If you drive through this work zones, tell us about it! Take a work zone survey today.

Future Engineers Visit MoDOT

Summer Transportation Institute shows underserved youth how careers in transportation are possible

For the eighth year, MoDOT partnered with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development to offer the four-week Kansas City Summer Transportation Institute. On July 13, students spent the day at MoDOT facilities to learn engineering principles, tour the SCOUT facility and experience first-hand some of the departments roadway safety improvements.

Their visit included a turn in the department go-carts with impaired vision goggles, giving them a taste of how hard it is to manage a moving vehicle while distracted or under the influence.

The Kansas City Summer Transportation Institute is one of 52 similar university-hosted programs in the nation, and is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Office of Civil Rights.

Of the more than 50 universities that offer this program, UMKC is one of only two Kansas City-area campuses. The UMKC program also is the only summer transportation institute that reaches out to students with disabilities as a major part of its recruitment efforts, with an average of 40 percent of participants having a disability.

This is just one of several youth programs MoDOT supports. Earlier this summer, transportation experts provided driver's safety education as part of driver education classes to almost 500 teens in seven area high schools.

The department also offers the Missouri Teaching Out-Reach program, working with area high-schools and fostering mentoring relationships with students interested in engineering. Staff volunteers visit grades 6 through 12 with an assortment of transportation-related activities.

Are you a teacher or educator and want to work with MoDOT? Check out our MoTOR program for details.

"It Was a Spectacular Night"

Bond Bridge, Fireworks Light up Kansas City’s Skyline

MoDOT’s new, Christopher S. Bond Bridge over the Missouri River lit up Kansas City’s night sky under a canopy of fireworks Sunday, July 3, 2011.  For the thousands of festival goers gathered in Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park to celebrate Independence Day, it was the first glimpse at the bridge’s display of colorful lights.

“It was a spectacular night,” said kcICON Project Director Brian Kidwell.  “And, MoDOT’s way of thanking the people of Kansas City for enduring a three-year road project in the heart of our city.” 

The Christopher S. Bond Bridge features a unique lighting system located along the outer edges of structure’s main support beams.  A series of 106 interconnected color-changing panels can display thousands of colors in a variety of patterns. 

Sunday’s event featured a patriotic package of red, white and blue lights. “Nine lighting packages were created with community input to mark Kansas City’s changing seasons, holidays and regional events,” said Kidwell.  “People can re-experience the bridge in a different way each time we turn on a new show.”

The $245 million kcICON project reconstructed 4.7 miles of Interstate 29/35 from just north of Route 210/Armour Road in North Kansas City into the northeast corner of the downtown Kansas City, Mo. freeway loop.  MoDOT and its contractor, Paseo Corridor Constructors, opened all ramps and lanes of Interstate 29/35 in December 2010, six months ahead of schedule and on budget.  Additional information is available on the project’s Web site: www.kcicon.com.

Bond Bridge/fireworks photos: www.flickr.com/photos/modot/sets/72157626999681429/
Bond Bridge/fireworks video: www.youtube.com/modotvideo#p/u/3/8wyC-H2PZ2w

Photo 1: MoDOT’s Bond Bridge and fireworks light up Kansas City’s night sky Sunday, July 3, 2011. Thousands of festival goers gathered in Richard L. Berkley Park to celebrate Independence Day and get the first look at the bridge’s display of colorful lights. Photo: Cathy Morrison

Photo 2: Kansas City District Engineer Dan Niec (right), kcICON Project Director Brian Kidwell (center), and Paseo Corridor Constructors joint-venture contractor team sponsor Tom Kellerman (left ) kick off the inaugural lighting of the Christopher S. Bond Bridge before a KCRiverFest crowd of thousands on July 3, 2011. Photo: Allison Campbell

If you drive through this work zone, tell us about it! Take a work zone survey today.