JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Department of Transportation's chief engineer has been chosen as the agency's permanent new director.
Dave Nichols was selected Tuesday by the State Highways and Transportation Commission, which oversees the department.
Nichols became interim director March 21, after director Kevin Keith took a medical leave of absence and announced he would be leaving MoDOT on July 1.
Nichols has been with the department for almost 30 years. Commission Chairman Joe Carmichael says a prolonged search for a new director was not needed because they already had the right person.
Keith spent more than 25 years working for MoDOT and was the agency's chief engineer before being named director in November 2010.