MoDOT Tractors Completing Mowing; Trucks Will Run Snow Routes in Nov. 5 Drill

MoDOT crews are almost done mowing for the year, cutting grass and weeds back as far as 30 feet off the road where we can.

Keep watching for slow-moving tractors into early November.

If you think we've missed your area, let us know.

EARLY HEADS-UP: On Nov. 5, MoDOT statewide will conduct a winter weather drill. In Southwest Missouri, we will send out 286 trucks on practice plowing runs. Please be alert.

We will operate our equipment as safely as possible whether along the roadside or on the pavement. We urge you to drive safely as well, including those times when you pass one of our tractors or drive behind a snowplow.

We have work to do, but we will try to minimize delays for you. Be patient, though. It’s better for you to reach your destination a little late than not at all.

As always, if you have a question or concern, give us a call at (417) 895-7600.

You can get the latest information about events and activities in MoDOT's Southwest District by going to our website.

Learn more about MoDOT's winter operations, get winter driving tips, and find out how to keep your driveway clear by clicking on the links below:

Who's First? MoDOT's Plowing Priorities
Winter Driving Tips
How to Keep Your Driveway Clear

Work Zone Awareness

Springtime just naturally call us to be outside. We love planting in our gardens, sprucing up our yards, attending outdoor sporting events and driving with the windows rolled down.

There’s a relaxed sense of time in the spring as well. We feel like we need to enjoy the sunshine, park at the last space in the parking lot and take our time walking into the office.

Yet, for many, once we’re behind the wheel and driving we become agitated when slowed down by a roadway work zone.

Just as spring is the perfect time to upgrade or maintain our homes, it is also the best time to start projects to maintain the condition of our major roads, while improving our minor road surfaces.

At MoDOT we’re working hard to make our work zones as safe as [possible. We offer the online Traveler’s Information Map, as well as an online "rate our work zone" tool. We’ve improved our work zone signs and we actively employ the latest technology to help us monitor traffic and decrease delays.

Since 2000, 15 MoDOT employees have been killed in the line of duty.

Distracted driving is the biggest problem. The top five contributing circumstances for work zone crashes in 2011 were inattention, following too closely, improper lane usage/change, too fast for conditions and failure to yield -- in that order.

Take time to enjoy your drive. Relax. Slow down. Drive Smart in Work Zones and Arrive Alive.

　

Diverging Diamond Interchange Coming to Joplin

Many of us love the freedom of an open road. We also want each and every trip to end safely.

Ease of travel and safety are important MoDOT goals as well.

Those principles are the backbone of our plan to rebuild the I-44/Range Line Road interchange in Joplin starting in late summer or early fall and running through the end of 2013.

The large-scale project will replace the aging I-44 bridges over Range Line Road, eliminate cloverleaf ramps in favor of straight ramps and convert Range Line Road into a Diverging Diamond Interchange.

You may have heard about the Diverging Diamond Interchange design. You may even have driven one in Springfield, Branson, Kansas City or St. Louis. We hope you come to understand how the design keeps traffic flowing and reduces crashes, especially right-angle crashes where cars try to turn left onto the freeway in front of oncoming traffic.

The Diverging Diamond Interchange shifts traffic to the left-hand side of the road at traffic signals on either end of the interchange, enabling left-turning drivers to turn without facing traffic from the opposite direction. It also enables through traffic -- those not wishing to turn onto the freeway -- to move through the interchange without having to worry about someone turning left in front of them.

It really works. That's why you're going to see more of these interchanges built in Missouri and in many other states.

To get an idea of how the design works, check our web site -- modot.org/southwest . You'll find study animations, drawings and a written explanation. Spend a few minutes. We think it will help you.

The project's construction will be a challenge. Traffic disruptions always occur during construction. However, MoDOT will work with its contractors to keep traffic moving. Most lane and ramp closings will be at night when traffic is much reduced. We're not saying there won't be pain but we will do our best to minimize it.

And don't worry. If you run a business near the interchange, your customers will be able to reach your door during construction, even though it might take them a few extra minutes to get there. We want to see everyone able to conduct business as usual amid all the orange cones and construction signs.

Leave a comment or call (888-275-6636) if you have questions or concerns. If you send us your email address or sign up for eupdates https://www4.modot.mo.gov/eMoDOTWeb/jsp/signon/signon.jsp, we can provide you with periodic updates on the project after construction begins.

Popular Web Section - Is Now App-worthy

You may have discovered an expanding waistline following the holidays, but our technology is obviously shrinking.

The way we use and view information has shrunk from the desktop to the laptop; from the tablet to the smartphone.

Our ever popular Traveler's Information Map is now an app available for both the iPhone and the Android. You'll find the same information you came to rely on from our Web site: winter road conditions, workzones, incidents and weather conditions.

We're dedicated to customer service. If you don't find the information you need on the app, then you simply tap the button and our 24-hour a day, 365-days-a-year customer folks are on the phone and ready to help.

Please note: the Traveler's Information Map app is for your use before you drive - never during.