Nov-06-2009I-64 Reopens Monday, Dec. 7
(topic overview)
CONTENTS:SOURCESFIND OUT MORE ON THIS SUBJECTNovember 06, 2009 Despite a second year with unusually wet weather, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Gateway Constructors announced that all lanes of I-64 will reopen Monday, Dec. 7.' This opening is nearly a month ahead of the contract deadline of Dec. 31. "Many people said this project couldn't be done within the time and budget allotted.' We are delivering I-64 a month ahead of schedule and $11 million under budget," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn.'" We are so proud of the work of the contractors, all of the workforce and the MoDOT staff who have worked hard to reopen I-64 ahead of schedule and under budget.' We thank St. Louis citizens for their patience as we rebuilt this critical roadway."
[1] At a
press conference this morning near the intersection of Hanley Road and the highway, Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) director
Pete Rahn said the project would also come in at $11 million under budget.
[2] Missouri Department of Transportation director Pete Rahn announced at a news conference on Friday that the stretch from Interstate 170 east to Kings highway will reopen on Dec. 7, well ahead of the scheduled completion date of Dec. 31. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said that is good news for both commuters and for the many businesses affected by the shutdown.
[3] Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said Friday that the freeway will open to traffic between Interstate 170 and Kingshighway on Monday Dec. 7.
[4] Rahn said that a party will be held on a portion of the newly completed interstate to celebrate the reopening on Dec. 6, a Sunday, culminating with a ribbon-cutting at 3 p.m. The highway will officially open on Monday, Dec. 7.
[5] When asked if MoDOT had, indeed, hoped to open the highway in time for that holiday but were thwarted by October's record-shattering rainfall, Rahn would only say, "I'm thrilled with Dec. 7." He added that Dec. 31 had been the only deadline that Gateway Contractors, the firm charged with completing the project, had ever committed to meeting.
[5] "The project that many said MoDOT could not deliver on time and on budget will be completed $11 million under budget and one month early," Rahn said. Rahn thanked area officials for their cooperation and the public for their patience. "This was a project we could not fail on," Rahn said.
[6] ST. LOUIS (AP)--The two-year project shutting down major sections of Interstate 64 in the St. Louis area will be completed nearly a month early and $11 million under budget.
[3] ST. LOUIS (St. Louis Public Radio) - Interstate 64 in St. Louis will reopen nearly a month early and $11 million under budget.
[4] Highway 40 (Interstate 64) will reopen to the public Dec. 7 a month early and under budget, officials said this morning.
[6] Updated: 10:36 a.m. Friday RICHMOND HEIGHTS -- Highway 40 (Interstate 64) will reopen Dec. 7 -- nearly a month early and under budget.
[5] 
Rahn said the project's completion will mean that Missouri will lose an unenviable distinction. "We will no longer be the only state in the country with an interstate highway that terminates in a Target parking lot," he said, referring to the store at the Brentwood Promenade shopping center, where Interstate 170 came to an end before the project began. That highway now connects to Interstate 64 via new flyover ramps.
[5] The Missouri Department of Transportation made the announcement at a 9:30 a.m. news conference to announce the reopening of the stretch of highway between Kingshighway and I-170.
[6] The Missouri Department of Transportation has found traffic simulation and modeling to be an important tool in highway traffic management at intersections and on particular roadways.
[7] Missouri Department of Transportation officials are saying '''no''' to texting while on the job. MoDOT put a policy into place Nov. 1 that prohibits its employees from texting while operating department vehicles and equipment.
[8] The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) recently developed a policy banning employees from texting while operating agency vehicles.
[9] Missouri Department of Transportation employees Johnny Aldridge, left, and Wayne Whitaker, right, work on repairing dips in the connection between bridges and highways on Highway P outside of Senath, Mo.
[9] Missouri Department of Transportation employees make asphalt repairs to the Platte River bridge on U.S. Highway 36 on Thursday.
[8] Effective November 1, texting will become prohibited by MoDOT employees while operating department vehicles and equipment, or personal vehicles when performing department business. [9] MoDOT'''s policy, however, doesn'''t discriminate. It applies to all employees, regardless of age. Tony McGaughy, MoDOT'''s assistant district engineer, said, '''We wanted to make sure that their focus is on driving and not being distracted while driving. We don'''t want them to endanger themselves or the traveling public.''' Mr. McGaughy said MoDOT has not had any problems in the past with its employees texting, but he said, '''with today'''s society, where everyone wants information right now, there'''s a proliferation of cell phones, BlackBerries, things like that.
[8] "MoDOT has great employees, but putting themselves and the traveling public at risk from texting while driving will not be tolerated."
[9] '''We always take a look at each case individually, and it could be more severe, depending on the circumstances.''' Mr. McGaughy added that he hopes motorists will take MoDOT'''s message to its employees and apply it when they get into their vehicles. '''It only takes a second for you to lose control or to run into the back of somebody,''' he said. '''Hopefully, people will follow our motto and not text while they'''re driving.'''
[8] MoDOT's police goes one step further, applying to all employees while operating vehicle or large equipment, according to MoDOT representatives.
[9] "We're sending a clear message that employee safety is a top priority," MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said.
[9] If an employee is caught texting while on MoDOT'''s clock, penalties are put in place.
[8] By bringing the job in on time, Gateway will collect $5 million in incentives -- $2 million for meeting last year's deadline for the western half of the job; $2 million for timely work on the eastern half; and $1 million "for insuring regional mobility during the project." MoDOT officials said some minor work will continue after the official opening, such as for striping, grading and landscaping.
[5] The contractor, Gateway Constructors, had faced a Dec. 31 deadline, and the project was expected to cost $535 million. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said the early re-opening is good news for both commuters and the many businesses affected by the shutdown.
[4] Richmond Heights (KMOX) -- The end is now officially in sight for the 64/40 reconstruction in St. Louis County. At 9:30 this morning, project spokesman Dan Galvin says MODOT officials are expected to announce their phase two re-opening date, covering the construction from Kingshighway to Interstate-170.
[10] The reopening will mark the end of major reconstruction work on about 10 miles of I-64 between Spoede Rd. in St. Louis County and Kingshighway Blvd. in the city.
[4] MoDOT will be hosting a food drive the day of the opening celebration. Operation Food Search will have collection bins for canned food at every interchange ramp along I-64 from Hanley to Kingshighway.' The public will be asked to bring canned food when they come out to enjoy the opening festivities. Early on the celebration Sunday there will be a 5K Run and a cycling time trial.' These two events require pre-registration.
[1] Before the road opens to traffic, the public is invited to participate in an opening celebration. The interstate was officially named the Jack Buck Memorial Highway, from McCausland to downtown, and this new sign will be unveiled with the Buck family during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
[1] Following the celebration on Sunday, Dec. 6, crews will work overnight to get the complete I-64 roadway open to traffic before 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7.
[1] The computer software will reflect the present systems performance with increased traffic flow or design changes, and will reflect if the present system is capable of handling traffic. This information will allow MoDOT traffic specialists to recommend changes in signal timing, installation of signals, safety needs and future interchange improvements. "Traffic models allow us to see if changes are needed or if changes we have proposed will actually work before they are applied on a roadway or at an intersection," said MoDOT Traffic Studies Specialist Erin Jones.
[7] Simulation models can be performed in the office rather than in the field and are designed to reflect the behavior of traffic over a period of time and space to predict system performance. How does traffic modeling and simulation work? It is a computer program using mathematical models to conduct experiments with traffic events on a roadway or at an intersection over extended periods of time.
[7] A simulation of traffic allows MoDOT to visualize traffic before making the actual changes to an intersection or design of a roadway. MoDOT used traffic modeling this summer to evaluate present traffic patterns on Missouri 47 in Troy and Warrenton, and Route 168 and the outer road systems in Hannibal.
[7] Charles Buckles, a senior crew member who has worked for the agency for 12 years, said MoDOT'''s new texting policy is a good idea. He said he doesn'''t text, but he does have a cell phone on him in case his vehicle breaks down and the radio in the vehicle doesn'''t work.
[8] "MoDOT implemented the policy to keep workers and public safe on the job and to show the companies strong commitment to safety."
[9] It will be before December 31 so Gateway can get their $2 mil phony bonus money - like MODOT has ANY of our money to give away. Those contractors, suppliers, Modotters, and trades are lucky to even have jobs. That should be a bonus enough! Let's not do this again (besides they're still working on the west section that was started in 2007.)
[6] SOURCES1.
I-64 Reopens Monday, Dec. 72.
Highway 40 to Open December 7 - St. Louis News - Daily RFT3.
I-64 stretch to open Dec. 7 | digitalBURG.com4.
KWMU: I-64 to reopen on Monday, December 7 (2009-11-06)5.
Highway 40 to reopen Dec. 7 - STLtoday.com6.
Highway 40 to reopen Dec. 7 | Along for the Ride | STLtoday7.
MoDOT uses simulators to improve local traffic flow - Hannibal, MO - Hannibal Courier-Post8.
stjoenews.net | New MoDOT policy prohibits texting while on the job9.
Daily Dunklin Democrat: Story: MoDOT develops policy banning employees from texting in company vehicles10.
KMOX.com - MODOT announcing 64/40 reopening dateGENERATE A MULTI-SOURCE SUMMARY ON ANY SUBJECTEnter your search query below. WAIT 10-20 sec for the new window to open.
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