Connections: December 3, 2015

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Connections Makes a New Year’s Resolutionby Tammy Wallace

The new year is just around the corner, and many of us will be making resolutions for 2016. The new year offers a chance to makeimprovements and to make a fresh start.

MoDOT’s Connections newsletter is also making a resolutionfor 2016 – to be more valuable and enjoyable for employeesthan ever before.

The new format and content will make it the “go to” publication to stay up to date on MoDOT news andinformation, while giving employees a little fun along the waytoo.

The 2016 newsletter will:

• Be more personal, short, visually appealing, easy to useand fun.

• Be easier to read on cell phones and tablets.• Be easier to print and easier to read after printing.• Include at least one article from each district per edition

and from central office divisions as needed.• Link closely with the content for the weekly maintenance powerpoint.• Allow employees to receive at home via email.• Only be available to employees and retirees (no longer available online).

This isn’t the first revamp of Connections. The employee newsletter has reinvented itself several times during the years, and eachrevamp has been an improvement, but 2016 plans to be the best remake ever.

Stay tuned for more details and upcoming publication dates!

How Retirees Can ReceiveConnections in 2016

Are you a retiree who signed up to receive Connectionsthrough the E-update System?

That means you went to MoDOT’s website, modot.org , clicked

on the E-update link, added your email address and checked the box next to Connections.If so, and you want to continue receiving the publication in2016, submit an email to [email protected]

so you can continue receiving the publications in 2016.

How Employees Can ReceiveConnections at Home

Beginning with the 2016 editions, employees can receiveConnections at their home email address.

If you would like to sign up to receive Connections at home,

contact your district’s communications staff and they willmake sure you get signed up.Central Office employees can contact

[email protected] .

Commission Summaryby Bob Brendel

Yesterday’s report delivered to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in Springfield was the last for InterimDirector Roberta Broeker who will return to her chief financial officer position on Monday upon the arrival of new director PatrickMcKenna.

Broeker has served as interim director since Dave Nichols retired in May. Commission Chairman Stephen Miller thanked her forher leadership.

“You have done a fantastic job, not only keeping the ship steady, but moving it forward,” he said.

In her report, Broeker announced MoDOT will receive three awards from the American Concrete Pavement Association at itsannual meeting on Friday – for projects in the Northwest, Central and St. Louis Districts. She noted that of the 32 national awards,only 11 were given to state DOTs and that MoDOT was the only one to receive more than two awards.

She also lamented that traffic fatalities in 2015 are running 10 percent ahead of a year ago, and that as of Dec. 1, 780 persons haddied on Missouri roadways. Some 63 percent of them were not wearing a safety belt.

“The upturn in fatalities is truly discouraging,” Commissioner Michael Pace said. “That is why passing primary safety beltlegislation and banning texting while driving is so important.”

OTHER ITEMSCritical Condition Bridges – Assistant District Engineer Laurel McKean gave a presentation about three of the 85 critical-condition bridges that exist in the Southwest District. It was the third straight month the Commission had received a local bridgeupdate.

“All of these bridges are important, no matter how large or how small,” Commissioner Gregg Smith said. “They have local impactand if closed present hardships to residents, businesses, school and emergency responders.”

December 3, 2015

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Lonna Sowers, executive director of Tech 44, discussed the organization'seconomic development efforts with t he Commission.

Click above to watch a short video of Stand Up for Safety Day activities,including clips of the Stand Up for Safety Day dance.

Consideration of Bids for Transportation Improvements – State Design Engineer Eric Schroeter reported to the Commissionthe results of the Nov. 20 bid opening. MoDOT received 135 bids on 34 calls. The Commission awarded contracts to the low

bidders on all but one bridge project in St. Louis County where bids were deemed to be excessive. There won’t be a letting inDecember.

Road to Tomorrow – Tom Blair, St. Louis assistant district engineer and leader of MoDOT’s Road to Tomorrow team, updatedthe Commission on progress made since June. A few of the ideas that have received the team’s highest scrutiny were highlighted:“smart” highways utilizing technology, trucking efficiencies, truck platooning, generating energy on right of way, advertising onright of way, innovative funding ideas including tolls, and alternative travel forms like Elon Musk’s “hyperloop” idea.

“This is some pretty exciting things we are doing,” Commissioner Tom Waters said. “I am amazed at the ideas we are receiving.”

Public Presentations – Brian Weiler, directorof aviation for the Springfield-Branson

National Airport and former MoDOT directorof multimodal operations, briefed theCommission on the airport’s AviationRedevelopment Project. The project, in whichMoDOT was a partner, allowed the airport toconstruct its first new hangar in seven years.“Thank you for your efforts in supporting this

project,” he said.

Sara Fields, executive director of the OzarksTransportation Organization (OTO), talkedabout the successful completion of a newdiverging diamond interchange at BattlefieldRoad and U.S. Route 65. The project was made

possible by a cost-share arrangement betweenMoDOT, the City of Springfield, GreenCounty and OTO.

Commission Vice Chairman Joe Carmichaelthanked the area’s transportation partners fortheir support. “This is my hometown and I am

proud of these projects,” he said.“Transportation is everybody’s problem andshould be everybody’s solution.”Lonna Sowers, executive director of Tech 44, informed the Commission about the economic development efforts of theorganization whose mission is to promote and grow the number and size of technology-related business on the Interstate 44corridor. Members of Tech 44 include 12 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis. Some 64 percent of Missouri’s technologyand advanced manufacturing companies are located along I-44.

“This is exactly what we should be doing and exactly the right time,” said Commissioner Mary Nelson. “You are encouragingeconomic development and a highly-skilled workforce.”

Judy Wallmark, secretary/treasurer of the Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge Guardians, told the Commission of the group’s passion to save the historic bridge. The 90-year-old bridge was closed a year ago because of its deteriorating condition. CentralDistrict Engineer Dave Silvester said the bridge will be added to the STIP for potential future work, allowing for the start ofnecessary environmental and historical processes

Legislative Committee – Vice Chair Carmichael said several bills have been pre-filed in the Missouri General Assembly. A primary safety belt law [HB 1424] and a ban on texting [HB 1423] have been filed by Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville. Rep. GlenKolkmeyer, R-Odessa, has indicated he will file legislation to increase the fuel tax by two cents. Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff,has filed SB 632 which raises the tax on motor fuel by one-and-a-half cents per gallon and three-and-a-half cents per gallon fordiesel fuel beginning on October 1, 2016. He also reported that U.S. House and Senate conference committee members inWashington, D.C. have agreed to a multi-year transportation reauthorization act.

MoDOT and Patrol Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees – Vice Chair Carmichael said the MPERS Board ofTrustees held a workshop session on Nov. 19 where they learned that MPERS has assets of almost $2 billion which is in the top-10among its peer agencies. Also, Commissioner Gregg Smith was elected to the MPERS Board of Trustees.

Stand Up for Safety Day Summary Availablefor Employeesby Tammy Wallace

On Oct. 8, MoDOT held its first Stand Up forSafety Day. Employees across the state spent the

day sharing personal stories about accidents or nearmisses and checked personal protection equipment,facilities, processes and operations to find areaswhere we can make safety improvements. Manyoutside organizations gave presentations on avariety of safety topics, and we even talked about

personal health and practicing safety at home.

At the end of the day, work units submitted theday's activities and many of the actions that weredetermined to make MoDOT a safer organizationfor us and our customers.

Those activities were compiled into a summarythat employees can find on SharePoint here –Stand Up for Safety Day Summary .





Change the Numbers This Holiday Season

Motorists Urged to Travel Safely by Kelly Jackson

The holiday season is upon us. From now through the NewYear, calendars will fill with holiday shopping, carolingand parties at offices and homes across the state. TheMissouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to remindthose who plan to celebrate to designate a sober driver orcall a cab to avoid driving impaired. Statewide, lawenforcement will be on the lookout for impaired driverswith targeted enforcement efforts Dec. 18, 2015 to Jan. 3,2016.

There were 50 people killed and 272 seriously injured inMissouri traffic crashes between Dec. 12, 2014 and Jan. 1,2015. Seven of the fatalities and 48 of the serious injuriesinvolved a substance-impaired driver. That equates to

potentially over 300 families whose lives were changed inan instant during what should be the most wonderful timeof the year. It’s time to change the numbers.

“We want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy holidayseason,” says Bill Whitfield, executive chair of thecoalition. “So we are making a special effort to reachmotorists with reminders to plan ahead for a safe and soberride home.”

What’s tragic about these crashes is that they are clearly preventable. Substance-impaired driving is a crime, not an “accident”, and is one of America’s most often committed and deadliestcrimes. There are no excuses to drive impaired. The facts are known - drinking and driving can be a lethal combination. Theconsequences are fines, jail time or even death. Enforcement will be out in full force this holiday season. If you choose to driveimpaired, you will be arrested.

To learn more, visit savemolives.com or find them on Facebook and Twitter at Save MO Lives, #DriveSoberMO.

What's HappeningLearn More About MoDOT's ExternalCivil Rights DivisionClick on the image to watch a short video of Lester Woods,MoDOT’s External Civil Rights director, speaking about hisdivision’s roles and responsibilities at MoDOT.





Human Resources Policy Manual Now Available on SharePointAs of Dec. 1, employees can find the Human Resources Policy Manual on the division’s SharePointhoomepage. The policy files have been converted from the intranet to SharePoint. The link on SharePoint iseasily accessible on the HR homepage by clicking on the top button “ Policy Manual ”.

If you have any issues accessing the new HR Policy Manual, please contact HR’s Employment Section at 573-527-1046. For adirect link to the HR SharePoint site, CLICK HERE .

Employee Advisory Meeting MinutesMinutes from the Employee Advisory Council's October meeting have been posted on the EAC SharePointsite. You can access them by using this link EAC Minutes October 2015.pdf .

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the EAC at [email protected] .

December Service Anniversaries

40 YearsSteven Layton Tarr - NWCarolyn S. Corum - CO

30 YearsRoger Dean Page - NEThomas J. Dewall - CDArthur R. Mueller - CDPaul W. Kraft - SWDonald Gene Benham - SWMark E. Shelton - SEAllen E. Friedrich - SE

25 YearsLoren Glen Dickmeier - KC

20 YearsJudy M. Harris-Turner - CDRandy L. Demery - CDPhillip M. Ruffus - SLKeith D. Martin - SWDoug H. Wilks - SWTommie Lavonne Chitwood - SEChristine Dawn Sublette - CO

15 YearsR. Keith Boling - NEJason Glenn Harvey - KCKurtis K. Hathaway - KCDouglas Bryant Parson - KCDouglas John Reeves - KCWesley Carlyle Stephen - SLJerad A. Finch - SWPamela Kay Masterson - SERobert L. Creamer - SEJames L. Leach - SEMichael J. Brandon - SEChristina Marie Teter - CO

10 YearsWilliam S. Beagle - NWGary L. Moffett - NETimothy R. Glasgow - NEMichael S. Halbert - CDMartin Paul Lefholz - SLMatthew L. Lakey - SWLindsey Michelle Boswell - COIda S. Mitchell - CO

5 YearsRoy Arthur Roush - NWRobert Wayne Linhart - NEAlbert Earl Wash - KCDwight Richard Sloan - SLMalcolm Ray Harris - SLFred Lee Wims - SEGregory Mark Poe - SE

Connections

The mission of Connections is to be a source ofMissouri Department of Transportation news andfeature articles that connect employees statewide.

Communications - MoDOTP.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102573.751.2840 / www.modot.org

Editor: Tammy Wallace

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace [email protected] .

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

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MoDOT's State Bridge Engineer Dennis Heckman addresses a group of studentsgiving them a first-hand look at bridge inspection and design.

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Students Learn About Bridge Inspectionand Designby Gregg Ochoa

Students from Immaculate Conception School in Jefferson City got a first-hand look at bridge inspection and design fromDennis Heckman, state bridge engineer for MoDOT. The students are part of an eighth grade leadership club.

“Our typical day? There isn’t one.Every day is something different,”Heckman told the students. Hisdepartment is responsible foroverseeing the design and inspectionof about 10,400 bridges acrossMissouri.

Students learned about the manycomponents of Heckman’s job,including preparing bridge plans and

providing cost estimates for the each project. Heckman also gave anoverview of the bridge inspection

process, which is an important partof keeping the public safe.

Heckman’s presentation included photos of bridge construction,decaying infrastructure andexamples of accidents, such as fire,collisions and natural disasters that

could cause damage to bridges. He also stressed safety, telling the students to always wear their seat belts and not to drivethrough water over a road.

Heckman pointed out that his job uses science and math skills, but you don’t have to love science and math to be anengineer. He added that solving problems is also an important part of his job.

“The favorite part of my job is knowing that I get to help people,” Heckman said.

Stay Safe at Home This WinterAs the weather changes and we move into the winter season, MoDOT takes every opportunity to check its equipment, trainemployees and refresh our winter operations skills. When it snows in Missouri, MoDOT is ready.

Staying safe during winter weather isn’t just about work though. Now is the time to go through your personal checklist tomake sure you and your family are ready for winter. Whether you are a seasoned snow fighter or this is your first year at thedepartment, review these tips and be safe at home and on your way to work.

At home, take time to winterize your residence. Keep some ice melt on hand, and put the snow shovel and supplies whereit’s easy to access them. Take plenty of breaks if you shovel the sidewalk or driveway. If you’re not used to strenuous work,shoveling snow puts a lot of stress on the body in a short period of time.

Prepare your vehicle for winter. Check your battery,lights, antifreeze, wipers, belts and hoses. Put the icescraper and other winter supplies in the car now soyou don’t have to dig for them when you really needthem.

Don’t forget your tires: the condition of the treadcan make a big difference when you’re driving onslick roads. It’s our job to report to work in inclementweather, so pack an emergency kit in your personalvehicle just in case. The basics include blankets,

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bottled water and nonperishable food, a cell phone,dry clothing, a shovel, jumper cables, a flashlight and

batteries.

If your car is covered in snow or frost, take the time toclear all the windows so you have maximumvisibility. Don’t forget to clear snow off the lights,hood and other surfaces of your vehicle so you’revisible to other motorists.

We share this message with motorists every winter, but it bears repeating: Ice and snow, take it slow – and know before yougo!

Encourage your family and friends to download MoDOT’s traveler information app so they have up-to-date road conditionsat their fingertips. The map is also available at www.modot.org .

Having an emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle can be lifesaving in case of a roadside emergency.

Central Office HappeningsStress: “A Way of Life or a Fact of Life”

by Deborah Byrd, licensed clinical social worker with CompPsychThursday, Dec. 17 – 2 to 3 p.m.601 W Main Street – Training Room Bor from anywhere via video conference

Stress is no longer related only to top executives or busy air trafficcontrollers. It is now recognized that all types of work involves stress;everyone experiences stress. Feeling stress is not always bad; it’s how wemanage stress that’s important. Learn more about stress and how tocontrol it with this s eminar.

Space is limited, so check with your supervisor then sign up throughMoDOT U - Stress: “A Way of Life or a Fact of Life”.

First Aid/CPR/AED ClassesWednesday, Dec. 16 – 12 noon to 3:30 p.m.601 W Main Street - Training Room B

Space is limited, so check with your supervisor, then sign up throughMoDOT U - LMS Course Code 24597, titled First Aid/CPR – Infant &CPR/AED – Adult and Child.





Connections

The mission of Connections is to be a source ofMissouri Department of Transportation news andfeature articles that connect employees statewide.

Customer Relations - MoDOTP.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102573.751.2840 / www.modot.org

Editor: Tammy Wallace



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Wichern November 1 Wichern November 30

Long-term Safety AwardsSafety is MoDOT's number one goal, so it is only appropriate that we celebrate saf ety-sensitive employees who maintainexceptional work safety records. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Northwest District recognized employees who have maintained 15years without lost time injuries or break in service.

Pictured above, clockwise from bottom left: Brian O'Neal, Bill Gallagher, Scott Stephens, Don Wichern, Kenneth Windsor,David Campbell, Jerry Adkison, Gary Hart, Tony McGaughy, Kenneth Henley, Lee Bearce, Marion Pryor, and Diane Sipes.

Not pictured: Jay Barnes, Clinton Cole, Archie Gandy, Quentin Holcomb, Robert Kish, Rick Meyer, Rodney Milford, KevinNovak, and Jason Utz.

Movember

Some of our district employees put on a brave face this November by baring it all - all of their face, that is. District EngineerDon Wichern and District Final Plans and Reports Processor Craig Elmore participated in Movember, a fun event aimed atraising awareness for men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physicalinactivity.

As part of the month-long event, both Wichern and Elmore had to start the month clean-shaven and then grow either amoustache or full beard during the month. For both men, this meant shaving facial hair that had been in place for severalyears. Wichern said his wife had never seen him without his moustache and he had been looking for a good reason to shaveit. Movember provided the perfect opportunity. Wichern opted to grow a full beard while Elmore went for a long moustache.The morning of Dec. 1, Wichern was back to sporting just a moustache, while Elmore will keep his Movember 'stache.

MoDOT and MSHP Total Wellness program allowed employees to sign up as teams or individuals to raise funds for men'shealth issues. In their most recent email update, the Wellness program reports that 11 teams raised $621 for men's health.Fifty-four men grew moustaches. MoDOT and MSHP Total Wellness matched the MSHP Team as they raised the mostmoney, $200. That brings the total donation to $821 for men's health!

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Elmore November 1 Elmore November 30

For more info

Marcia JohnsonCommunications SpecialistNorthwest [email protected]

3602 N. Belt HighwaySt. Joseph, MO 64506-1399



Mission



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KC District Engineer Dan Niec talks aboutthe significant role partnerships play inthe community.

Dr. Oliver De Grate III Memorial BridgeNaming Ceremony

It was an honor to work with him, to know him. He had a vision andwouldn’t stop until he made it happen. This was howseveral people described Dr. Oliver De Grate III during a recent

bridge dedication ceremony for the Woods Chapel Road and I-70interchange in Blue Springs, Mo.

DeGrate was the Public Works Director for the City of Blue Springsfor many years, and was instrumental in the planning andconstruction for the new Diverging Diamond Interchange over I-70.

This project was a joint project between the City and MoDOT,showing the value of strong partnerships.

“MoDOT considers its partnerships with cities one if its most valuable resources,and Blue Springs and this bridge is a shining example of how we can work togetherto make our communities a more forward, and safer place to live and work,” saidKC District Engineer Dan Niec. “Just as I know Dr. De Grate was a uniqueindividual, it’s fitting that we dedicate this bridge in his honor since it also is aunique design and one of the few in the state.”

Now known as the Dr. Oliver De Grate III Memorial Bridge, the Woods ChapelRoad DDI sits as a reminder of De Grate’s commitment to moving Blue Springsinfrastructure forward for today and into tomorrow.

KC Hosts Innovations Challenge ShowcaseFrom implementing a system to improve situational awareness along the interstate corridors and state highways with KCScout, to providing a cheap and effective way to apply liquid materials to roads and bridges during winter weather, the KCDistrict’s Innovations Challenge was a huge success. More than 25 creative and innovative tools, projects, and ideas for

better productivity were highlighted during the early December event.

Several district employees stopped by to get a first-hand look at themany entries. Judges made the rounds to learn about each innovation,scoring them on how well they would benefit MoDOT. Does thisinnovation allow employees to do the job safer? Check. Do they savemoney? Check. Does it save employees time, or can they do the jobmore efficiently? Check. All of these questions were used when tallyingthe scores, identifying the top innovations for the KC District.

Thanks to all the entrants, the KC District winners will now competeagainst the other Districts and Central Office for up to 60 slots at theApril 2016 Innovations Showcase in Springfield. KC will send thefollowing to be reviewed for the chance at being selected for thestatewide showcase.

Tool & EquipmentWinter Chemical Spray Tip – Kelly Yager, George Rich, Justin Anderson – Sedalia MTLiquid Sampling Probe – John Sprigg – Marshall CMBrine Maker – Tim Koch, John Mackey, Jacob Hunter, Jesse Dunkle – Concordia MTFlip Sign – Jerry Howard, Billy Cretzmeyer – Odessa MTPneumatic Drill Guide – Kelly Yager, Michael Arnett – Sedalia MTWing Plow Removal/Installation System – Travis Teter, Cliff Everts – Knob Noster MT

ProductivityMobile Video Conferencing – Brian Burger, James Pflum, Perry Allen – CMRisk Management Fatal Crash Review – Jim Taylor – RMTraffic Training Modules – Scott Brelsford, Chris Weikel – TR Dashcam for CM – Marc Hohe – Nashua CMEye/Ear Protection Combo – Brian Burger – CM

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People's Choice, Brine Maker.

Dry Erase Communication System – Larry Johnson – Marshall MT

ProjectsMobile Log Finder – Mike Warren, Chris Jaeger, Stuart Harlan,Jack Stoner, Chris Karlin, Steve Collyot – CMTrafficVision & ATMS – Lindsay Harris, Nancy Powell – KCScoutKC Sweeping Strategy – Marcus Slaughter, Jesse Skinner, JoeyHinton, Scott Townsend – MT/GSMicrostation/Google Earth Overlay – James Pflum, EricKopinski, Brian Burger, Mike Warren – CM911 CAD Integration – Mark Sommerhauser – KC Scout

In addition to the judges top picks, employees who stopped by tosee each innovation had an opportunity to vote on their favorite.The KC’s People’s Choice Award went to the Brine Maker, amore efficient brine making tool submitted by Tim Kock, JohnMackey, Jacob Hunter and Jesse Dunkle from the ConcordiaMaintenance Building.

For more info

Melissa BlackCommunications Manager,Missouri Department of [email protected]: (816) 607-2027F: (816) 365-0860

600 NE Colbern RoadLee's Summit, MO 64086



Mission



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The Central District was presented with the Flag of Freedom Award on Nov. 30at the district offices. Pictured (from left to right) are: Central District EngineerDavid Silvester, Jefferson City Maintenance Worker Parker Lawrence and ShowMe Heroes Director Major Michelle Matthews.

Central District Receives Flag of Freedom AwardFor its efforts in reaching out to andemploying veterans and National Guardmembers, the Central District was presentedwith the Show Me Heroes Flag of FreedomAward on Nov. 30 at the district offices.

The Flag of Freedom award is presented toorganizations that have pledged to hireveterans and National Guard and Reservemembers. The plaque includes the flag

patch that was worn on the uniform of acombat soldier who served in Afghanistan .

Show Me Heroes is an initiative promoted by Gov. Jay Nixon to ask organizations tomake a pledge to hire veterans. Theinitiative is overseen by the Department ofEconomic Development.

"Our district took the governor's pledge, andwe started looking for qualified veterans toadd to our workforce," said HumanResources Specialist Wes Stout. "ParkerLawrence was our first hire under the

pledge. He was originally hired to work at the Columbia maintenance shed as a maintenance worker and transferred to theJefferson City shed to be closer to home."

Lawrence was an infantry squad leader who served five years in the United States Marine Corps and was also deployed inAfghanistan .

"We're proud to be recognized by Show Me Heroes as an organization that values veterans and National Guard and Reservemembers," said Central District Engineer David Silvester. "We'll continue to actively pursue qualified veterans and qualifiedmembers of our National Guard and Reserve to promote excellence in our workforce."

Project Office Replacement in Osage Beach

Construction of the new Osage Beach project office is underway. When completed, the new project office will replace theCamdenton project office.

The decision to build a new building was made because the Camdenton building was not ADA compliant and requiredextensive remodeling that would not extend the life of the building and cost more than building a new facility.

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Franklin County Construction of New Haven, MO is the contractor on the project. The new project office is scheduled forcompletion in March of 2016.

Bench Raffle Winners NamedCongratulations to Senior Design Technician Elizabeth Berhorst and Senior Traffic Technician Becky Lenon, who were thewinners of the wood benches hand-crafted by Roadside Maintenance Crew Leader Lucas Ruppel. The raffle, benefiting theconstruction and maintenance of the Central District Fallen Workers Memorial, raised about $300. The memorial is nowunder construction on the Central District Office grounds. We'd like to send out a special thanks to the TransportationEmployees Association of Missouri for sponsoring the raffle and to Lucas for crafting and donating the benches.

Pictured above are (from left to right) District Final Plans and Reports Processor Duane Kliethermes,Senior Design Technician Elizabeth Berhorst, Senior Traffic Technician Becky Lenon

and Roadside Maintenance Crew Leader Lucas Ruppel.

Flooding on Route BBFlooding on Missouri Route BB over Gabriel Creek in Morgan County during rain storms that crews fought throughout thedistrict the week of Nov. 14:

For more info

Sally OxenhandlerCommunications ManagerCentral [email protected]

1511 Missouri BoulevardP.O. Box 718Jefferson City, MO 65102



Mission



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David Kaercher (yellow) hands the donations to the helper atthe Jennings School District Community Cupboard.

MoDOT Starts the Holiday Seasonwith Givingby Shaunda White

A local food pantry in north St. Louis County is filling up more cabinets this holiday season thanks to a recent donationfrom MoDOT.

Last month, the St. Louis district donated more than 30cases of Snapple to the Jennings School District CommunityCupboard (JSDCC).

The JSDCC is sponsored by the Jennings school district andserves Jennings residents only. Every month, the pantryserves approximately 260 families.

The pantry is able to serve the community through monthlydonations from Wal-Mart, Sam’s and Shop ‘n Save.However, even with the multiple donors, the food supplyruns low every month.

“The need for the community is there, especially this time ofthe year. That is why we are extremely thankful for thedonations for our food pantry that MoDOT has provided uswith,” said Leon Hite, coordinator at JSDCC.

The cases of Snapple were originally donated for thedistrict’s 2015 Safety Fair. Snapple donated more than 100cases to the district for the event earlier this year.

Community Liaison, Shirlyn Myles, initiated the request from Snapple.

“I approached Snapple because of their Community Outreach program and they were more than happy to donate over 3000Snapple products for our Safety Fair. The items left over were donated to Jennings because this was the next best way togive back to the community,” said Myles.

MoDOT Welcomes Danish Engineersby Jessica Hochlan

As Denmark looks to build the country’s first diverging diamond interchange, they are turning to MoDOT for help.

Four engineers from the Danish Road Directorate visited with MoDOT officials last month to learn about the challenges thedepartment faced when building DDIs. Else-Marie Lorenzen, Winnie Hansen, Jorn Vammen and Bente Hansen spent a weektouring the state’s DDIs and meeting with the people instrumental in building them.

MoDOT St. Louis District Design Engineer Tom Evers says, “It was very interesting to meet with the Danish engineers andsee that even though we have cultural differences, we face many of the same challenges when it comes to building andmaintaining our systems, especially when it comes to focusing on safety and getting the best value for roadway projects.”Springfield, Missouri was the site of the United States’ first-ever DDI. It opened in 2009.

Denmark (population 5.6 million)Danish Road Directorate

Missouri (population 6million)

Missouri Department ofTransportation

Miles Maintained 3,796 kilometers (2,358 miles) 34,000 milesRegions 6 7 plus central officeEmployees 844 5,109Divisions 4 (Planning, Construction & Maintenance,

Traffic Operations and Resources)23

MaintenanceEmployees

0 (all routine maintenance work iscontracted out)

roughly 2,700

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District Safety and Health Manager Gary McLarry checks thecondition of an extension cord during the fall maintenanceinspection at the Springfield facility on Nov. 23. (Photo/DavidMitchell)

Southwest District at Work

BRIDGE WORK – Contractor crews pour concrete onthe Missouri Route 215 Bridge over Stockton Lake inCedar County. They are working to replace the deckon what locals call One Mile Bridge. The nearly $10million project is expected to be finished by May2016, prior to the tourist season. (Photo/DavidMitchell)

GETTING READY – Anderson IntermediateMaintenance Worker Richard Kautz installs a plow ona truck ahead of a Thanksgiving weekend storm.Crews prepared for the worst, but the precipitationremained liquid except for a few icy spots on bridgesin Bates County. Parts of the Southwest Districtreceived several inches of rain over the weekend.(Photo/David Mitchell)

Fall Building Inspections Complete,Middleton: Everyone ‘did a great job!’The fall maintenance building inspections are complete for another year and District Maintenance EngineerMichael Middleton is impressed.

“Our buildings did a great job,” Middletonsaid. “We are all reminded of how seriouslyour personnel take their responsibilities andkeep their facilities safe and organized.”

The district’s 29 maintenance buildings areinspected twice a year. The fall inspections areused to wrap up summer operations.Maintenance employees clean and organizetools and equipment, inventory what they haveon hand and address any safety issues.

“Overall, the building inspections went verywell,” said District Safety and Health ManagerGary McLarry. “We deeply appreciate

everyone’s time, effort and commitment toensure that our facilities are kept at their best tohelp ensure safety is our number one priority.”

The building reviews address things like clearaccess to electrical boxes, extension cords

without nicks or other damage, properly labeled fuel containers and potential erosion issues at the facilities.

There is an added benefit to the inspections, too.

“The buildings show off their significant pride in being good public servants by managing their resources,” saidMiddleton.

The next inspection is in April.

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District Snow Plow Drivers StayUp to DateDistrict employees who will be driving snow

plows this winter received training on theelectronics in new trucks recently delivered tothe district.

The new trucks have the Freedom XDSControl System, which includes upgrades thatmake the job of the plow driver safer andeasier. Drivers can keep their focus on the roadwhile the control system runs the salt spreader.

Click on the photo to view a short video aboutthe training.

For more info

Jennifer WilliamsCommunications ManagerSouthwest [email protected]

3025 E. KearneyP.O. Box 868Springfield, MO 65801



MissionOur mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.


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December 3, 2015

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Click the image above to view more photos.

MoDOT Tests Bridges, Names Winnersof 12th Annual Bridge Building CompetitionSte. Genevieve, Oak Ridge and Chaffee High Schools Take ‘Top Three’

After weeks of work to build themost efficient model bridges,Southeast Missouri high schoolstudents put their bridges to thetest Nov. 19 at the completion ofMoDOT’s 12th Annual BridgeBuilding Competition. Thecompetition challenges highschool juniors and seniors todesign and construct the mostefficient model bridge usinglimited materials—15 pieces of

balsa wood, thread and glue.

Ste. Genevieve, Oak Ridge andChaffee High Schools receivedfirst, second and third place for

best overall performance,respectively. These schoolsreceived cash prizes donated bythe SE Chapter TransportationEmployee Association ofMissouri.

In addition, five students were recognized for building the lightest bridges that carried the greatest loads. Winners included:1st – Dalton Giesler – Ste. Genevieve2nd – Jessica Hahs – Oak Ridge3rd – Daniel Vieth – Ste. Genevieve4th – Ashley Lemonds – Oak Ridge5th – Austin Brewer – Ste. Genevieve

Other awards included the most aesthetic bridge, presented to Savannah Mackey of Delta C-7 High School; and thecomputer-based electronic bridge award presented to Jamie Hodge of Delta High School.

Prize donations and supply sponsorships were made possible by the following businesses and organizations: SE ChapterTransportation Employee Association of Missouri, Cape West 14 Cine, Three Rivers Community College, Cape AreaEngineers Club, Southeast Physics & Engineering Club, Southeast Chapter of the Missouri Society of ProfessionalEngineers, Sam's Club, Pepsi Mid-America and the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety.

MoDOT also partnered with Arkansas State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri University of Scienceand Technology, University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) and Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, to offe r seniorsinterested in civil engineering up to $10,000 in scholarships.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and representatives from the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety were onhand during the competition to discuss the importance of buckling-up with the Seat Belt Convincer, which simulates how it

feels to be in a traffic crash.Visit www.flickr.com/photos/modot_se/albums/72157659423754753 to view more photos.

Join Us for Team Spirit 2016The Team Spirit program provided a one-day workshop at the Sikeston YMCA Nov. 2.Team Spirit is a program designed to empower youth to take an active role in promotingsafe driving habits, and preventing impaired driving from alcohol and other drug use. Athree-day, high-energy training is held each summer in Cape Girardeau. The 2016conference will be held July 24-26 at The Auburn Place. For more information go tosavemolives.com/regions-connect/southeast .

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Connections: December 3, 2015