Following a lane reduction and weight restriction on the Route 19 bridge over Sinking Creek in Shannon County, a temporary bridge was put into place in May 2015. Commission Summary by Bob Brendel Two leaders of the Missouri General Assembly, both of whom are outspoken advocates for adequate transportation funding, appeared before the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission yesterday during its monthly meeting in Poplar Bluff. House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) said, “We need a 21st-century road network to take advantage of our state’s geography and our roads, rivers and railroads.” Senator Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff), who is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, had similar sentiments. “Missouri is the crossroads of America,” he said, “and transportation is a great economic development tool for us. But with the funding struggle, how are we going to continue to attract new businesses and allow existing business to thrive and expand?” He added that because of the time it takes to plan, design and construct highway and bridge projects, a long-term, predictable funding solution is needed. Commission Chairman Steve Miller told both legislators that the Commission looks forward to working with them during the legislative session that begins in January. Also in attendance were Rep. Don Rone (R-Portageville), Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff), Senator Gary Romine (R-Farmington) and staffers for U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt. OTHER ITEMS Critical Condition Bridges – State Bridge Engineer Dennis Heckman and Southeast District Area Engineer Dave Wyman described for the Commission the local impacts that “critical-condition” bridges can have on communities. Heckman explained the bridge rating system, where a new bridge is a ‘9’ and a closed bridge is a ‘2.’ In MoDOT’s nomenclature, condition 3 and 4 bridges are considered to be in critical condition. There are 101 such bridges in the Southeast District and 641 statewide – 50 more than a year ago. Wyman described how each is important to the area it serves: • Route 19 over Sinking Creek in Shannon County – crucial to the local logging industry. • Route Z in Stoddard County – five critical condition bridges on this route that are vital to support local agriculture and provide access to the Bootheel’s only rice mill. • Route 91 in Stoddard County – also has multiple critical condition bridges that are important to agriculture, access to the SEMO port and healthcare services for area residents. • Route 49 in Wayne County – an 86-year old bridge ensures necessary access to a granite quarry at Gad’s Hill. • Business 60 in Poplar Bluff – a bridge in town is important to local schools and emergency services. • Route 51 Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River – the aging structure is important to businesses on both sides of the river. If it were to be closed, an 88-mile detour is required. Heckman told the Commission that to get ahead of the curve, MoDOT should be replacing more than 100 bridges per year; however, available resources are allowing only 30-40 annual bridge projects. Public Presentations – Scott Spencer, president of First Community Bank and a member of the Highway 67 Corporation, called for MoDOT to take the lead to four-lane the last 12 miles of U.S. Route 67 from south of Poplar Bluff to Arkansas. He noted the 50 miles that had been completed since 2005 from Fredericktown to Poplar Bluff were made possible by passage of a one-half-cent sales tax by local voters. Chairman Miller said, “Poplar Bluff worked hand-in-hand with us. They deserve to be applauded for that. It certainly gets our attention with our limited funds when a community finds a way to make a project happen.” Jeff Cowen, presiding commissioner of Shannon County, thanked MoDOT and the Commission for the installation of a temporary bridge over Sinking Creek on Route 19. He called for a permanent replacement, and planning and programming of replacement of two additional nearby bridges, as soon as possible. Route 19 in the Eminence area serves Round Springs State Park, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and a new state park under construction. Consideration of Bids for Transportation Improvements – State Design Engineer Eric Schroeter reported to the Commission the results of the September 25 bid opening. MoDOT received 65 bids on 18 calls. The Commission awarded contracts to the low bidders on all but three projects (in Butler, Callaway and Cass Counties) where bids were deemed to be excessive. Action on one project was delayed pending receipt of additional information. Planning and Environmental Studies – Schroeter described the processes that must be followed in order to have projects ready October 8, 2015 Central Office Districts Northwest Northeast Kansas City Central St. Louis Southwest Southeast Page 1 of 6 Connections 10/8/2015 http://modot.org/connections.htm
Transcript
Following a lane reduction and weight restriction on the Route 19 bridge over Sinking Creek in Shannon County, a temporary bridge was put into place in May 2015.
Commission Summary by Bob Brendel
Two leaders of the Missouri General Assembly, both of whom are outspoken advocates for adequate transportation funding, appeared before the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission yesterday during its monthly meeting in Poplar Bluff.House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) said, “We need a 21st-century road network to take advantage of our state’s geography and our roads, rivers and railroads.”
Senator Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff), who is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, had similar sentiments. “Missouri is the crossroads of America,” he said, “and transportation is a great economic development tool for us. But with the funding struggle, how are we going to continue to attract new businesses and allow existing business to thrive and expand?”He added that because of the time it takes to plan, design and construct highway and bridge projects, a long-term, predictable funding solution is needed.
Commission Chairman Steve Miller told both legislators that the Commission looks forward to working with them during the legislative session that begins in January.
Also in attendance were Rep. Don Rone (R-Portageville), Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff), Senator Gary Romine (R-Farmington) and staffers for U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt.
OTHER ITEMSCritical Condition Bridges – State Bridge Engineer Dennis Heckman and Southeast District Area Engineer Dave Wyman described for the Commission the local impacts that “critical-condition” bridges can have on communities.
Heckman explained the bridge rating system, where a new bridge is a ‘9’ and a closed bridge is a ‘2.’ In MoDOT’s nomenclature, condition 3 and 4 bridges are considered to be in critical condition. There are 101 such bridges in the Southeast District and 641 statewide – 50 more than a year ago.
Wyman described how each is important to the area it serves:
• Route 19 over Sinking Creek in Shannon County – crucial to the local logging industry.
• Route Z in Stoddard County – five critical condition bridges on this route that are vital to support local agriculture and provide access to the Bootheel’s only rice mill.
• Route 91 in Stoddard County – also has multiple critical condition bridges that are important to agriculture, access to the SEMO port and healthcare services for area residents.
• Route 49 in Wayne County – an 86-year old bridge ensures necessary access to a granite quarry at Gad’s Hill.
• Business 60 in Poplar Bluff – a bridge in town is important to local schools and emergency services.
• Route 51 Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River – the aging structure is important to businesses on both sides of the river. If it were to be closed, an 88-mile detour is required.
Heckman told the Commission that to get ahead of the curve, MoDOT should be replacing more than 100 bridges per year; however, available resources are allowing only 30-40 annual bridge projects.
Public Presentations – Scott Spencer, president of First Community Bank and a member of the Highway 67 Corporation, called for MoDOT to take the lead to four-lane the last 12 miles of U.S. Route 67 from south of Poplar Bluff to Arkansas.
He noted the 50 miles that had been completed since 2005 from Fredericktown to Poplar Bluff were made possible by passage of a one-half-cent sales tax by local voters.
Chairman Miller said, “Poplar Bluff worked hand-in-hand with us. They deserve to be applauded for that. It certainly gets our attention with our limited funds when a community finds a way to make a project happen.”
Jeff Cowen, presiding commissioner of Shannon County, thanked MoDOT and the Commission for the installation of a temporary bridge over Sinking Creek on Route 19. He called for a permanent replacement, and planning and programming of replacement of two additional nearby bridges, as soon as possible. Route 19 in the Eminence area serves Round Springs State Park, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and a new state park under construction.
Consideration of Bids for Transportation Improvements – State Design Engineer Eric Schroeter reported to the Commission the results of the September 25 bid opening. MoDOT received 65 bids on 18 calls. The Commission awarded contracts to the low bidders on all but three projects (in Butler, Callaway and Cass Counties) where bids were deemed to be excessive. Action on one project was delayed pending receipt of additional information.
Planning and Environmental Studies – Schroeter described the processes that must be followed in order to have projects ready
October 8, 2015
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Marisa Ellison, communications manager for the Northeast District, discusses crisis communication with attendees at the Infrastructure Security Conference in Peoria, Illinois.
to deliver when funds are available. He said there is a need to provide a balance between taking care of the existing system and being prepared to deliver strategic major projects.
Donate Your Hours to ShareLeave New Options for Foster or Adopted Child Leaveby Linda Wilson-Horn
Employee annual leave hours hit their maximum accrual limits at the end of October. If you will not be able to get below your maximum accrued amount, please consider helping your fellow employees by donating to MoDOT’s ShareLeave Program. Donated hours remain with MoDOT and provide additional paid sick leave to eligible MoDOT employees who have exhausted all of their accrued leave time due to an illness or injury that is life threatening, catastrophic, or resulting in a potential permanent disability.
The department manages an Employee Pool for an employee’s medical condition and a Family Pool for an employee’s family medical condition. Starting this month, the ShareLeave program has added a third leave sharing option for purposes of foster or adopted child placement or care after placement. Recently passed Missouri legislation created this new program.
Employees can now donate annual leave hours to the Foster and Adoptive Placement and Care Pool. Employees who have exhausted their accrued leave time can apply for ShareLeave for items including appointments, court proceedings, travel, training and other time needed related to becoming a foster parent or adopting a child.
The form to donate your annual leave hours to ShareLeave is available on the Human Resources Division SharePoint site. Please note the form allows you to designate donated hours to the Employee, Family or Foster and Adoptive Placement ShareLeave pools. Click Here for the forms.
In 2014, employees donated 3,235.45 hours to ShareLeave to keep the program with a healthy balance. This generosity by MoDOT employees helped 15 employees in 2014 continue to receive a paycheck during their time of need.
MoDOT Employees Participate in Illinois Infrastructure Security Conference by Marisa Ellison
Our neighbors to the east recently held an Infrastructure Security Conference in Peoria bringing together about 100 Illinois Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol and Department of Natural Resources employees to learn about various practices to improve incident management.
Marisa Ellison, communications manager for the Northeast District, and Owen Hasson, Incident Management for the St. Louis District, were guest presenters.
Marisa shared information on crisis communication and the importance of taking the time to plan your communications, citing a case study from 2006 when a cave was discovered under a highway project.
Owen shared some of the incidents he and his team deal with on a regular basis, as well as insight to civil disobedience and the effect the activities in Ferguson has had on MoDOT operations and its employees.
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One of the graphics MoDOT used on social media to keep the public informed on road closures during extreme flooding earlier this year.
Emergency Funds Provided for FloodDamaged Roads by Linda Wilson-Horn
The Federal Highway Administrator recently announced the release of $1 million in federal emergency relief funds to MoDOT to help with repairs to the state’s highway system due to extreme flooding earlier this year. Bridges and roads throughout the state have been damaged from landslides, erosion and scouring, and many culverts have been washed out. In total, 76 of Missouri’s 114 counties received damage to state roads and bridges.
The greatest immediate need is in the Northeast and Kansas City areas and these immediate funds will be used to work on their high priority needs.
MoDOT will continue to address the repairs statewide and will continue to pursue funding for the locations with major damage.
You can read FHWA’s news release here - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1565.cfm.
New Medical Plan Option FAQsMore Frequently Asked Questions on the New High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) option.
Employees are encouraged to review all of FAQs and other information on the website at http://modot.org/newsandinfo/benefits.htm and attend one of the workshops being held in the districts and central office to see if this new plan would be beneficial for you. You can also contact employee benefits staff at 877-863-9406.
Q. Is there a separate prescription drug deductible such as in the traditional PPO plan? A. No, the prescription and the medical deductibles are shared.
Q. If I have accumulated over $2,000 in the HSA account and elect to invest those funds over the $2,000, what happens if my account goes below $2,000 because I have claimed qualified expenses? A. You would have to liquidate some of the money invested in order to get back to the $2,000 level.
Q. If I have a claim in February for $1,000 but only have $250 in my HSA, can I collect the fully $1,000 to pay my claim? A. No, you cannot exceed the balance in your account as it is a debit card and would reject? Your available balance will always show on the Health Equity web portal.
Q. Can you contribute a check to Health Equity mid-year after you realize you did not set your monthly deductions high
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enough to take care of the expenses you incurred? A. Yes, as long as you stay below the IRS annual limit.
Q. How do you realize a tax savings when you are making your contribution on-line or sending the deposit to Health Equity? A. You would not realize the tax savings until you file your taxes the next year.
Missouri High Schools Challenged to Drive Safe and Buckle Up Safe Driving Campaign Educates to Save Teen LivesBy Kelly Jackson
Calling all Missouri high schools to compete in the 2015 "It Only Takes One" campaign for an opportunity to win prizes for your school while educating young drivers about safe driving habits and safety belt use. Sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety and ACT Missouri, the statewide competition will run from October 1 to the end of the school year.
It's important that young drivers realize it only takes one text, one drink, one call, one reach, one distraction to cause one fatal moment but that one clicked safety belt could be the difference between life or death in a car crash.
"Six out of ten young drivers and passengers killed in 2014 Missouri vehicle traffic crashes weren't buckled up," said Bill Whitfield, executive committee chair for the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. "Through education, competition and fun, the ‘It Only Takes One' campaign can make a difference with young Missourians and save lives."
Young drivers are over represented in crashes both nationwide and in Missouri. Although comprising only eight percent of Missouri's licensed drivers, they were involved in 17 percent of the 2014 fatal and serious injury crashes. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people 15-20 years old. Research indicates that driver distractions are the primary cause of fatal collisions. In addition, one of the greatest risk factors faced by young drivers is the number of passengers in the vehicle. Studies have confirmed that with the presence of just one passenger, young drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash. Also, results of a 2015 survey among Missouri young drivers indicate that 31 percent are not wearing safety belts. Read More.
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What's Happening October Deferred Compensation UpdateThe advice to start saving early is certainly wise. In fact, the sooner you start saving something, anything, the better off you will be.
Watch this month's video from Missouri's Deferred Compensation staff. They recently visited MOSERS' Pre-Retirement seminars to see what advice those nearing retirement had for newer state employees. Here what they had to say - October Deferred Comp.
Haunting Fun this Fall at Missouri’s Amusement ParksSix Flags and Worlds of Fun are offering state employees big discounts ontickets this fall. There’s something for the whole family as these parks deckout for spooky fun. Click on the flyer below for all the details on dates anddiscounts – Theme Park Discounts.
October Service Anniversaries
30 YearsDonald Ingram Standley - NWRodney M. Martin – NWJohn W. Gabathuler - CDLeroy E. Bauer - CDKelly R. Hensen - SLJulie Ann Zibert - SWLonnie D. Chambers - SE
25 YearsKathy Jean Tripp – NWTimmy E. Lake – NEMichael J. Tourney – NEDonald Eugene Klaus – KCRobert Ray Lawrence – SWCharles Andrew White – SW
20 YearsBrenda Sue Hughes – NWDan M. Fox – NEKeith F. Rush – KCChad E. Baldwin – KCMelissa Renee Black – KCMichael N. Adams – SW
20 Years Continued Deidre K. Berry – SW Randy Lee Patterson – SWDwayne C. Severs – SW Jaylyn Ann O'Connor – SWSteven Thomas Markham – SWBrad L. Cook – SEDale D. Wright – SEJeffrey Eugene Payne – SEMelissa Ann Wilbers – CODonna H. Schmitz – COSteven A. Sanning – COShawn D. McKee – CO
15 YearsJimmie D. Martin – NWKevin M. Haner – NEClinton W. Tillitt – NERebel Jess Walker – KCTerry James Talley – SLMitchell A. Davis – SWDuane E. Fish – SEDeborah Lynn Hill – CO
10 YearsJason Wayne Sears – NEDonald Lee Hall – KCDamon Sheridan B. Rinehart – KCAndrew Lee Dobnikar – KCJamey Asahl – CDKevin W. Blankenship – CDRonnie G. Pyatt – CDAnthony D. Archer – SLMelinda Ann Lawrence – SLDonald Ray Dipley – SWAlan Dwayne Hooper – SWAnthony W. Bennett – SEJustin L. Adey – SETonya Renea Doyel – COLeann Glanel Kleffner – COMarisa Jade Kling – CO
5 YearsJamie R. Mathes – NEJoshua Cody Chapman – KCRandall Lavance Ewing – KCGregory Kurt Giedinghagen – KCMatthew R. Kidder – KC
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Rebecca Lynn Jackson – COAmy Kathleen Binkley – CO
William John Lutgen – KCTiesun Tejay Hochlan – SLDavid Lynn Kaercher – SLRichard A. Kelley - SE
Connections
The mission of Connections is to be a source of Missouri Department of Transportation news and feature articles that connect employees statewide.
Communications - MoDOTP.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102573.751.2840 / www.modot.org
Editor: Tammy Wallace
Comments & Suggestions
We would like to hear from you. Send comments and suggestions to Tammy Wallace at [email protected].
Mission
Our mission is to provide a world-class transportation experience that delights our customers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.
To view or print other pages, click on the links below:
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Ground Broken for Rosecrans Airport Runway
Multimodal Division Senior Construction Inspector Tamara Pitts (left) joined Missouri Air National Guard Major General Stephen Danner for the September 30 groundbreaking for the new $5.8 million runway at the Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.
The Missouri Air National Guard uses Rosecrans Memorial Airport for training on the C-130 model transport plane, shown here. The Federal Aviation Administration through MoDOT is providing 32 percent ($1.8 million) of the cost to build the new runway.(Photos by Marcia Johnson).
OATS Celebrates New Springfield Facility
Multimodal Division Director Michelle Teal spoke at the Sept. 18, 2015, open house for the new OATS facility in Springfield. More than 275 people celebrated the opening of the new facility.
The Southwest Region for OATS serves 17 counties including Barry, Barton, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney, Webster and Wright.
Central Office Happenings Mentor/Mentee WorkshopsDo you want to enhance your leadership skills? Boost your career and professional competencies? Would you like to see an increase in employee morale and engagement? Then look no further – these fun-filled interactive workshops are for you.
Mentor Workshop
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Nov 3 – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.830 MoDOT Drive – Gold Room
Nov 5 – 1 to 2 p.m. Central Office - Room 303
This workshop will leave you ready and excited to be the most effective mentor you can be. Learn how to effectively engage your mentee in order to provide the best experience possible. You will also learn more about yourself and what you have to offer as a mentor.
Go to MoDOTU search Mentor Workshop under course code 92014 to enroll.
Nov 5 - 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Office - Room 303
This workshop will leave you ready and willing to engage in a mentorship. Come and learn how to find the best mentor for you and why having a mentor is one of the best things you can do for your career. Learn how to be an effective mentee and how to gain the most out of your experience. You will learn about yourself and what you want to strengthen in your career.
Go to MoDOTU search Mentee Workshop under course code 92014 and enroll.
Learn how and why mentoring is so effective in the workplace. Learn what you can do as a leader in MoDOT to encourage your employees to use this valuable program to their benefit. Gain a new understanding and perspective about what mentoring has to offer your employees, you and MoDOT as a whole.
Go to MoDOTU search Mentor Supervisor Training under course code 92014 and enroll.
For questions, contact Beckie Brietzke - 573-522-9482.
Edward Jones Health Care and RetirementOct. 13 – 2 to 3 p.m.601 West Main – Training Room B
Go to MoDOT U and search Health Care and Your Retirement. This is not offered via video conference.
For questions, contact Amanda Woody – 573-526-5617.
Oct. 2 marks the anniversary of Cpl. Michael Webster’s (a former Highway Patrolman who was killed in the line of duty) death. The American Red Cross is hosting a special blood drive in his honor.
Connections
The mission of Connections is to be a source of Missouri Department of Transportation news and feature articles that connect employees statewide.
Comments & Suggestions
We would like to hear from you. Send comments and suggestions to Tammy Wallace at [email protected].
To view or print other pages, click on the links below:
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Service men and women stood in formation for the duration of the ceremony at the 13/31 Assault Strip.
Major General Stephen L. Danner spoke to the attendees about the importance of the 139th Airlift Wing, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base and the new airstrip.
Aviation Senior Construction Inspector Tamara Pitts has worked closely with the Air National Guard's 139th Civil Engineer Commander Colonel Grace Link to bring the airstrip project to Rosecrans.
County commissioners, city council members, representatives from the Air National Guard and MoDOT"s Tamara Pitts break ground for the new airstrip.
Rosecrans to Receive New RunwayThe pilots and airmen who use the 13/31 Assault Strip at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph will soon have a new runway thanks to joint efforts of the Air National Guard, Buchanan County, the City of St. Joseph, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and MoDOT. Rosecrans is home to the 139th Airlift Wing and is the headquarters for the Missouri Air National Guard.
The pilots using the current 13/31 Assault Strip have to contend with D cracking. The cracking could cause fragments of the runway to break off and bounce into the engine of the aircraft using the runway, resulting in damage to the machinery or worse. The damage to the concrete means pilots may only use the current runway for day operations.
The new runway will be 75 feet wide and 5,000 feet long with the capability to handle night operations. The Air National Guard is providing approximately 65 percent of the funding needed for this project. MoDOT is providing Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program funds for the remaining costs with the City of St. Joseph providing local match for the FAA funds, as well. Construction should take approximately four months with most of the work planned for this spring.
A ground breaking was held Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, on the current runway with many community and civic leaders in attendance and one of the 139th's aircraft as the backdrop. Representing the Air National Guard were the service men and women and civilian employees who work full-time on the base as well as Missouri's Adjutant General Major General Stephen L. Danner, Assistant Adjutant General Colonel Gregory Champagne, and 139th Civil Engineer Commander Colonel Grace Link. Several city council members, all three Buchanan County commissioners, St. Joseph's mayor, and MoDOT's own Aviation Senior Construction Inspector Tamara Pitts participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Aviation Senior Construction Inspector Tamara Pitts is interviewed by KQ2 reporter Emily Wearing.
St. Joseph Mayor Bill Faulkner, Presiding Commissioner Harry Roberts, Eastern District Commissioner Dan Hausman and St. Joseph City Council Member Kent O'Dell chat after the official ceremony finished.
Dr. Hode asked participants to complete an Identity Map with given traits - those you're born with, chosen traits - those you choose to do, and core traits - personality traits.
Dr. Marlo Goldstein Hode asked the group to examine their core identity and their own biases that they bring to the table.
Dr. Crowley also talked about recognizing our own bias and bringing respect to relationships to aid diversity and inclusion.
After lunch, Dr. Crowley kept the participants laughing as the afternoon sessions began.
Diversity and Inclusion Conference
Almost 100 supervisors and leaders from across the district gathered at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph on Thursday, Oct. 1 for the MoDOT Regional Diversity and Inclusion Conference. Dr. Tim Crowley and Dr. Marlo Goldstein Hode presented at the conference which challenged employees to examine their own unconscious bias and through that self identification, understanding and respect, create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
Roadside Assistant Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Lytton said one thing he took away from the conference is that people aren't as they appear and one must get to know a person without making assumptions about their culture or background. Dr. Crowley had one participant at the front of the room and asked others to guess the participants ethnicity. Lytton knew the participant well and was surprised that so many inaccurate guesses were given without anyone correctly identifying their ethnic heritage.
Risk Management Technician Danielle Lankford was also surprised by an exercise. Dr. Hode asked each participant to pair up with someone they did not know and guess traits about the other person. Lankford said it was interesting to hear someone you'd never spoken to before pick out traits, both accurately and inaccurately, based simply on what they observed.
Lunch allowed for employees who may not get to sit and chat due to their distant work locations to get to know one another.
The venue for the conference provided a unique opportunity for Senior General Services Specialist Kathy Tripp whose daughter Alex was able to stop by between classes for a quick chat.
Senior Customer Service Representative Lisa Kellison and Human Resources Specialist Britney Richardson all set up and ready for the expo to begin!
Senior Human Resources Technician Barb Holland and Senior Human Resources Specialist Angie Downey ready with information and assistance for expo attendees.
Many younger visitors were captivated by the working flashing yellow arrow traffic signal that was part of the Northwest District's booth.
Little Miss East Hills Madison Brim visited the booth with her family where Senior Human Resources Specialist Angie Downey helped everyone pick out a piece of candy.
Josephine Expo
Now in it's 11th year, the Josephine Expo is a day for area women to shop, learn about local vendors, organizations and home-based businesses. There are also food vendors and entertainment, making this an annual kick-off to the holiday season for many attendees. ]
The expo is an extension of the monthly Josephine publication from the St. Joseph News-Press. This year's expo was held Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. The Northwest District had a booth at the expo to let the community know about career opportunities, hand out maps, sign people up for traffic alerts, inform them about new flashing yellow arrow signals coming to St. Joseph and take a couple of customer concerns.
Cole Sutton (left) and Matt Tobias (right), both of the Hannibal Project office, are shown with Ol' Glory at the Big Calumet Creek Bridge project.
Old Glory Waves Over Big Calumet Creek Recently, a Vietnam veteran from Curryville, Mo, passed away in the VA Hospital in Columbia. His friend, George, also a veteran, was with him only a few days before he died.
"He asked me to take this flag and share it where it would be appreciated," George said.
There were many places George could have taken the flag, or "Old Glory," as he called it. "I see those guys working on that bridge down there by Clarksville, and they're doing a good job!" he emphasized. "So I think, they seem like hard workers who would appreciate my friend's story, and I take them the flag," he explained.
Tom Shrum, senior construction inspector, is overseeing the work on the Big Calumet Creek Bridge on Missouri Route 79.
"Tom was just as nice as they come," George said. "He took that flag and told me he would be honored to fly it at the bridge while they're doing construction," he said. "That really made me happy," he added.
While George is very pleased about Old Glory being displayed at the project, he really wants the bridge to be renamed Old Glory. "I'll be talkin' to my state rep about this, because I don't think there is another bridge in Missouri called Old Glory," George said.
So as Old Glory waves over Big Calumet Creek, we say thank you to those that are currently serving and those that have served in the past for their sacrifices to give us the freedoms we have today!
Around the District...
Lewis County crews have been doing some bridge work over the past few weeks. Pictured is the crew working on a bridge on Route J.
Casey Morris, Sheanna Lindsey and Rick Skirvin, all of Elsberry, are pictured sealing a bridge in Lincoln County.
Macon Parents as Teachers held it's annual Trucks, Tractors & Tykes event. Pictured here is Reid, son of Sarah Marino in General Services, enjoying the MoDOT truck at the event. He loved the air horn!
Atlanta PTO held it's annual Big Wheels event for area children. Pictured is Lexie, daughter of Neal Ross from Macon, getting her picture taken in the MoDOT truck.
Northeast Coalition for Roadway Safety held it's quarterly meeting in Mexico. Area partners joined to learn about coalition activities. Bud Balke with MADD was a guest speaker at the meeting.
KC Scout Recognizes Emergency Response Team This week, KC Scout staff took time to recognize some of the most visible members of their team: Emergency Response Operators.
Emergency Response Operators provide assistance on most of the busiest interstates in and around the Kansas City metropolitan area. They offer help to disabled motorists and respond for lane obstructions, be it stalled vehicles in traffic lanes, car accidents or debris in the roadway.
With each assist, the operators present their customer with a business card and ask them to complete a survey on their services. The recognition this month was to highlight the operator who received the most responses.
Working emergency response requires near constant vigilance along the roadways. Last month, they completed more than 1,400 assists - 1,600 in August. The most common driver ailment is a flat or blown tire.
This quarter's honor went to Greg Morgan, who quickly gave it to another co-worker. Greg had the most responses from customers about his help on the roadway, including some glowing comments:
Greg was very friendly and very helpful. We felt a huge relief when he showed up as we felt very unsafe on the tiny shoulder where we had a flat tire (on an overpass) Greg friendly smile and quick service was very much appreciated!!
I had just pulled over was very frustrated and then Gregory showed up and I didn't even expect it! He saved the day and help temporarily fix my car so I could make it home! God bless him!
Learn more about this quick-action team on KC Scout's webpage.
Public Hearing Introduces Diverging Diamond Paired with RoundaboutThe Southbound Route 291 Interchange at US 50 in Lee’s Summit is currently over capacity and requires significant maintenance, including bridge replacement. Built in 1969, this interchange serves more than 35,000 vehicles per day. The City of Lee’s Summit is working with MoDOT to find a way to ease congestion, enhance transportation safety and accommodate future growth, and they came up with something pretty unique - a diverging diamond that pairs with a roundabout. Check out this video of how the interchange will flow.
Recently, the City of Lee’s Summit and MoDOT hosted a public hearing to share the preliminary design for the project and receive comments from motorists in the area. Approximately 40 people stopped by to learn about the project. The proposed interchange improvements include:
• Reconstructing the Route 291 overpass bridges into a diverging diamond design.• The intersection of Blue Parkway, the north outer road to US 50 Highway, and Jefferson Street will be reconstructed as a
• Oldham Parkway will be realigned to the south and the existing traffic signal controlled intersection will be removed.
This project will also accommodate bikes and pedestrians and include off-street shared-use trails. One of the busiest park facilities in the community with indoor and outdoor recreational amenities is located at the northeast corner of the interchange.
The project is scheduled for letting by the end of 2016 with construction completed by mid to late 2018. Learn more about this project on our website.
For more info
Melissa BlackCommunications Manager,Missouri Department of [email protected]: (816) 607-2027F: (816) 365-0860
600 NE Colbern RoadLee's Summit, MO 64086
Comments & Suggestions
We would like to hear from you. Send comments and suggestions to Tammy Wallace at [email protected].
Mission
Our mission is to provide a world-class transportation experience that delights our customers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.
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Central District Highway Heroes Perform Act of KindnessColumbia Maintenance Supervisor Richard “Skeeter” Skelton and Eldon Maintenance Supervisor Dirk Honeycutt stopped to help an elderly gentleman change a tire on Route 63 in Columbia on Sept. 16.
Skelton and Honeycutt continued with their daily business as usual, but customer Peggy Ashbaugh of Clark noticed the act of kindness. She was even moved to send in an email that read – “I want to thank the two highway workers who helped an elderly gentleman change a tire (on Route 63 in Columbia) … Great job!”
Paving Operation on Route E Huge SuccessThe district teamed up with contractor NB West to put down 922.11 tons of hot mix overlay in one day during a paving operation on Route E in Auxvasse. Our workers - including District Maintenance Engineer Randy Aulbur (pictured in the second photo below) - handled traffic control, oil operations, hauling and rolling. Thanks to all sheds and employees who made this operation a success!
Larry McFadden, motorist assist operator participates in the fire safety training in St. Louis on Oct. 7.
TMC employees participate in a safety scavenger hunt where they point out potential safety hazards in the building.
Stand Up For Safety Kicks Off in St. Louis by Shaunda White
Some St. Louis employee work groups got a day in advance to recommit to working in a safe environment. Employees from the Transportation Management Center (TMC) and Motorist Assist (MA) participated in their Stand Up For Safety event on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Both work groups spent the day discussing and focusing on ways to improve daily work operations through MoDOT’s five safety areas:
• I’m Safe• What I Use is Safe• Where I Am is Safe• My Customers are Safe• So We Go Home Safe
During the Stand Up For Safety event at the TMC, employees participated in earthquake drills, work zone safety exercises, fire extinguisher and CPR training and a safety scavenger hunt. Employees had the opportunity to discuss close calls and offer any suggestions for improvement.
The MA Stand Up For Safety agenda consisted of safety videos, personal protective equipment checks, mock car incidents, hazardous material training and automobile fire safety training.
This year makes the first MoDOT statewide Stand Up For Safety event. Though the TMC and MA employees set aside Oct. 7, the remaining of the state will hold their events on Oct. 8.
Motorist Assist Operator Jack Cox and Maryland Heights Fire Department put oil dry on a large fuel spill on I-270 in St. Louis.
Motorist Assist #KeepEmMoving on the Road and Twitter by Jessica Hochlan
St. Louisians got a chance to ride along with a motorist assist operator in 140 characters or less. MoDOT St. Louis’ first-ever Tweet-along highlighted the day-to-day operations of one of the district’s motorist assist operators.
The goal was to highlight not the tire changes and traffic control that operators like Jack Cox do on a daily basis, as well as the things they do that are often outside the scope of daily operations.
The Tweet-along started with a 50-gallon fuel spill in Maryland Heights and ended with a tire change around a blind curve on eastbound I-64.
“Social media is a way to bring people into our world. This is a way to humanize MoDOT and show that we are more than overhead message boards and construction cones. It also allows us to highlight all the great work our employees do,” said Communications Manager Marie Elliott.
Stay tuned for future Tweet-alongs with other departments, including maintenance and the TMC staff.
JUST A LITTLE TAP HERE – A contractor crew works on a concrete form on the new Crossroads Interchange at I-44/I-49 & Prigmor Avenue near Joplin. The project is nearing completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Nov. 2 (Photo/David Mitchell)
AND THEY’RE OFF! – Construction is complete and traffic is moving through the latest diverging diamond interchange in Springfield. This one, the fifth completed in Springfield and the seventh in the Southwest District, is on U.S. Route 65 and Battlefield Road. All that remains is some cleanup, signal work and seeding and mulching. (Photo/David Mitchell)
COL. TEEGARDIN – Southwest District Engineer Becky Baltz, (left) congratulates Branson Resident Engineer Johnny Teegardin on his recent promotion to full colonel in the Arkansas National Guard during a meeting of the Southwest District Management Team on Sept. 22. (Photo/David Mitchell)
ATTENTION ON DECK! – A contractor crew lowers a section of the deck from the Missouri Route 215 bridge over Stockton Lake onto a barge. The concrete removed from One Mile Bridge will be used as fish habitat in another location on the lake. The work is part of a project to replace the bridge’s driving surface. (Photo/David Mitchell)
PENSMORE MANSION – District Management Team members learn about innovative construction materials and techniques during a recent tour of the Pensmore Mansion south of Ozark near U.S. Route 65. (Photo/Jennifer Williams)
The results of the district’s 2015 Summer Safety Challenge are in and the results are POSITIVE!
For four months each summer, the Maintenance Division challenges employees to improve safety in a number of categories.
With the exception of personal injuries, all categories showed a reduction in the number of incidents reported in the Southwest District.
“I am very proud of so many employees who take the safety of co-workers, the public and themselves so seriously,” said District Maintenance Engineer Michael Middleton.
In those categories showing improvement, the positive results continued for a total of five months.
“We were impressed with the performance over the summer,” Middleton said, “and just wanted to see one more month’s results.”
Here’s an overview:• All 500+ maintenance employees went the entire month of May without any incidents• Number of backing incidents were down (four in 2014 compared to two in 2015 over five months)• Overhead incidents were reduced (two in 2014 compared to zero over five months in 2015)• At-Fault incidents were down (eight in 2014 compared to five over five months in 2015)• Personal injuries were up (15 OSHA recordable injuries in 2014 compared to 17 in 2015)
Middleton attributes the good results to consistent discussions and awareness of safety. The message is re-enforced in various ways through morning meetings, weekly e-mails from the SW District Risk Management office and video messages that highlight safety situations.
“Our greatest reduction in incidents is always directly related to each individual improving their own safe procedure decisions,” Middleton said.
SoutheastClick the image above to watch the ZADD program in action.
MoDOT is currently examining six alternates to improve the Route 19 bridge over Sinking Creek in Shannon County.
Zombies, Southeast Coalition Warn Against Drunk Driving Zombies in the Southeast District are in search of drivers! And they hope to share an important message to help them make the right decisions before getting behind the wheel.
Zombies Against Drunk Driving, ZADD, is teaming up with the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety to remind drivers that drunk driving isn’t just scary—it’s wrong.
“Many of the fatal crashes during Halloween weekend can be attributed to drinking and driving,” said Sandy Taurone, regional contact for the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety. “When someone drinks and drives, they are not only putting themselves at risk but also other motorists and pedestrians."
Taurone said that the most important part of any celebration involving alcohol should be the designated driver.
She added that members of the Southeast Coalition are teaming up with ZADD for two upcoming events.
The events include: • Saturday, Oct. 17 beginning at 9 a.m.- SEMO University Homecoming Parade in Cape Girardeau• Friday, Oct. 30 beginning at 7 p.m.-Nightmare at Kinyon School in Poplar Bluff
If you are interested in participating in these events, please contact Taurone at (573) 472-5388 or [email protected].
The ZADD program originated in Utah. For more information, visit www.ksl.com.
Southeast District Reaches Out for Public Input
Public involvement is an important part of any construction project, and the Southeast District has been busy gathering the thoughts of local residents for upcoming improvements.
This week, a public meeting was held to discuss improving the Route 19 bridge over Sinking Creek in Shannon County. A temporary bridge was put into place in May 2015, following a lane reduction and weight restriction on the existing Route 19 bridge over Sinking Creek.
"While the temporary structure allows heavy truck traffic to avoid lengthy detours, we look forward to finding a permanent solution to provide a crossing over Sinking Creek," said Project Manager Pete Berry.
During the meeting, the project team shared six options for providing a crossing over Sinking Creek. Four of the alternates include building the structure on a new alignment, with two proposed alternates designed on the existing alignment. In addition, historical and environmental impacts were discussed.
For more information on this upcoming project, please visit http://www.modot.org/southeast/news_and_information/public_meetings/Route19_SinkingCreek_Shannon_Oct2015.htm.
Another public meeting is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 to discuss four upcoming bridge projects in Dunklin County. The meeting will be held at the Senath-Hornersville Middle School Library, located at 601 School St. in Hornersville, Mo.Three of the bridges are located on Route TT over Sand Slough Ditch, Drainage Ditch No. 8 and Belfontain Ditch. The fourth bridge is located on Route P over Buffalo Ditch.
The Route TT projects will involve replacing the existing structures with wider bridges that feature lower rails to better accommodate agricultural traffic. Work is expected begin in spring 2016, with completion anticipated in fall 2017. The schedule will allow access to the levee between Belfontain Ditch and Drainage Ditch No. 8 during both phases of the project.
The Route P project will include replacing the existing Buffalo Ditch bridge with a box culvert designed to better serve agricultural traffic. Work will begin in spring 2016, with completion anticipated in fall 2016. Construction was scheduled to take place during the summer to avoid impacts to the school as much as possible.
For more information on the upcoming meeting and projects, please visit http://www.modot.org/southeast/news_and_information/public_meetings/routettandp_dunklin_oct2015.htm.
