Lager pushes for repair of lettered routes

by Senator Brad Lager

Although the major focus of the Highway Commission was the regularly scheduled business meeting and a discussion on the Highway 36 project, Senator Brad Lager again delivered his message and concern about the rural roads and lettered routes in northwest Missouri. During a dinner reception the night before and during the Commission meeting the next morning, Sen. Lager thanked the Missouri Department of Transportation for their progress on key projects in northwest Missouri while continuing his push for a fix of our lettered routes.

"Over the last several years I have had the opportunity to travel thousands of miles on our roads in northwest Missouri. I used to have deep concerns about I-29, I-35, Highway 71 and Highway 36, but that is beginning to change now that MODOT has spent some significant time in our part of the state," Sen. Lager said as he addressed the Highway Commission. "But we still have thousands of miles of roads that are in deplorable condition. I am not standing here to ask for golden highways, we just need safe, reliable transportation."

To highlight the needs and problems with our lettered routes, Sen. Lager arranged a visual display for the Highway Commission. Utilizing a semi and a John Deere combine from Sydenstricker’s in Chillicothe and a F-350 from Chillicothe Ford, Sen. Lager had a section of the Grand River Inn parking lot marked to show the width of a lettered route with no shoulder. When the F-350 was placed in the outside lane facing a semi and a combine, there was no doubt that the vehicles would have to run completely off the road when meeting each other, a situation that happens to drivers everyday in northwest Missouri.

This was the third year that Sen. Lager provided a visual display of the dangers we face on our lettered routes, and MODOT has taken notice. MODOT Director Pete Rahn and a number of the Highway Commissioners noted that Sen. Lager’s message has been heard and that Missouri’s rural roads have problems that need to be addressed.

"MODOT has had great progress over the past few years, but Sen. Lager reminds us that there is always work to be done. When we look at the data on the condition of rural roads and bridges in northwest Missouri, we know that Sen. Lager is not being dramatic about the need," said MODOT Director Pete Rahn. "There are over 27,000 miles of lettered routes in Missouri and we need to have a systematic plan to improve the condition of those roads. This fix will not happen overnight but we do have a plan and we are constantly pushing forward."