Every successful road trip starts with a good map of how you want to reach your destination.
When it comes to improving Missouri's transportation infrastructure, the state has done a good job of staying the course and has made significant strides to reach the destination of a safer transportation system.
A key piece of that strategy has been a $351 million Focus on Bridges program that is entering its final stretch. The gains have been impressive, but we are not at the destination yet.
So, the governor, Legislature and Missouri Department of Transportation need to keep their eyes on the road (and bridges) so that we can reach that destination.
Their focus needs to remain on improving the state's infrastructure creatively and by maximizing the use of state dollars to attract federal dollars that will stretch the reach and impact of those construction dollars.
Less than five year ago, the state of Missouri found itself with more than 900 bridges in poor condition and 1,131 were weight restricted; 413 fell in both categories.
With 10,384 bridges, Missouri had the sixth-most bridges of any state, and the future looked bleak because of their aging conditions.
But Gov. Mike Parson advocated for a new program to address those critical needs. With the Focus on Bridges program, he asked the General Assembly to appropriate $50 million from general fund to kick start the work of repairing and replacing 250 of those bridges that were in the poorest condition.
In 2019, the General Assembly stepped up and delivered, and the state set out to begin improving its bridge infrastructure.
MoDOT used those first state funds to complete projects on 45 bridges. That then helped the state draw down federal funds to stretch the state's money. That then allowed work to begin on replacing the Interstate 70 bridge at Rocheport that we see being built today.
Those federal funds then triggered $301 million in state bonds for the remaining bridge repairs.
That aggressive and insightful approach allowed MoDOT to complete 100 bridge projects within the program's first year.
Currently, of those 250 bridges enrolled in the program initially, 223 are done and open to traffic. Twelve are under construction, and 15 are under contract to start construction soon.
Dustin Boatwright, the new vice chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, noted the Focus on Bridges program is an example of what Missouri can do when the governor thinks big, the Legislature provides support and MoDOT executes the plan.
"With the track record that we have on these particular subjects, if the governor wants to think big and wants to continue to invest in the state, MoDOT's here and ready to execute," Boatwright said. "And that's an exciting place to be."
He's right. The program has carried us closer to our destination of safer roads and bridges. But again, we are not there yet.
It's time to check the map and gas up for the next leg of the journey.
Under Parson's leadership, MoDOT has laid out a five-year plan of transportation improvements that totals $10 billion -- a significant increase from the $2.5 billion spent in previous plans.
Another 1,443 bridges are set to receive improvements under the department's five-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The state will also be investing in improvements to low-volume rural roads that will have an impact on safety and economic impact on nearly every county in the state.
Meanwhile, the Legislature is working through plans to invest in improvements in the state's oldest interstate, Interstate 70.
The danger while driving -- and legislating -- is to get distracted by other projects that would dilute the bold plans set for by the governor, especially when it comes to addressing the needs of Interstate 70.
Keep your eyes on the road, Missouri, and we will reach that destination of safer roads and bridges for the next generation of Missourians.
-- News Tribune