Five meetings held along 250-mile corridor
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation is conducting an environmental study, called Forward 44, of more than 250 miles of Interstate 44 from the Oklahoma state line to the Route 100 east interchange near Gray Summit in Franklin County. This summer, MoDOT is holding a series of public meetings and encourages the public to give input on their concerns and observations along I-44.
I-44 is a vital east-west link across Missouri. A 2008 study showed the aging route needs additional roadway capacity to accommodate the increased travel demand. Since the highway was built more than 50 years ago, evolving engineering standards and safety components mean many portions of I-44 are inconsistent with current design standards, and the pavement and bridges need repairs.
The Forward 44 project is an effort to update and validate the outcomes of that 2008 Purpose and Need Study and provide the opportunity for input from stakeholders and the public along the I-44 corridor.
“I-44 continues to be one of Missouri’s most important corridors for passenger travel and commercial trucking. This study is the first step in preparing for future projects along this interstate,” said MoDOT Assistant Southwest District Engineer Greg Chapman and lead for the Forward 44 study. “Getting input from the public who travel the roadway daily will help identify areas of concern and can assist MoDOT with improving safety and mobility for generations to come.”
The public is invited to attend one of the public meetings listed below:
- Wednesday, July 17, from 4–7 p.m. at St. Clair City Hall, 1 Paul Parks Drive, St. Clair, MO 63077
- Thursday, July 18, from 5–7 p.m. at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm St., Rolla, MO 65401
- Tuesday, July 23, from 4:30–6 p.m. at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 E. 20th, Joplin, MO 64804
- Thursday, July 25, from 4:30–6 p.m. at Crossway Baptist Church, 2900 N. Barnes Ave., Springfield, MO 65803
- Wednesday, August 14, from 4–7 p.m. at the Wallace Center, 325 Harwood Ave., Lebanon, MO 65536
The public is welcome to attend the session and location that is most convenient. All meetings will share the same information which will also be available on the project website. The public will be able to provide comments in person or online at modot.org/forward44 from July 10 through Aug. 21.
For more information on the I-44 Corridor Study, call MoDOT at ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit the Forward 44 website for the latest updates and to sign up for Forward 44 news.
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