Retirement means fewer bumps in Roger Schwartze's path

Roger Schwartze, central district engineer for MoDOT, is shown at the groundbreaking ceremony for the pedestrian/bicycle attachment built on the northbound Missouri River bridge. Schwartze is retiring after 34 years with the department.
Roger Schwartze, central district engineer for MoDOT, is shown at the groundbreaking ceremony for the pedestrian/bicycle attachment built on the northbound Missouri River bridge. Schwartze is retiring after 34 years with the department.

As he leaves his position with MoDOT after 34 years on the job, Central District Engineer Roger Schwartze feels that while financial challenges are ahead in the future, if money does become available, this part of the state is in a good position to move ahead on many projects.

"Look at what we've got planned for future," he said. "The Whitton Expressway is ready to move forward and we've done the preliminary work to make U.S. 63 four-laned to Rolla. Even some portions of U.S. 50 are ready to do four-laning on that road."

Schwartze started in the Springfield District as a construction inspector. He came to Jefferson City in 1979 and worked in the ....