Report: Missouri roads, bridges among worst in U.S.

Friday, September 2nd, 2011, 8:40am

A new report shows that Missouri's rural roads and bridges are some of the worst in the nation. This is according to a national transportation research group.

The report found that more than 500 people died on rural Missouri roads,

Eighteen-percent of Missouri's rural bridges were rated structurally deficient, and 20-percent of rural roads are in poor condition.

An additional 11-percent of the state's rural bridges were functionally obsolete.

"The condition and safety of these roads and bridges is critically important to the hundreds of thousands of Missourians who live and make their living in the state's rural areas. While progress has been made, there is still much left to be done," said Doug Smith, president of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri. "There is a direct correlation between the condition and safety of the state's rural roads and the limited funding that MoDOT has available."

View Comments | Post a Comment

Community Sponsors

Bennett Family Dentistry

Our Family Caring for Your Family

Business withdraws protest in levee re-building process

Submitted by KFVS Web Staff

Thursday, September 1st, 2011, 2:38pm

A local business owner says getting the Birds Point Levee rebuilt is more important than challenging the clay hauling contract awarded to a Las Vegas contractor.

Donald Bond of Donald Bond Construction tells me he withdrew his protest involving Wadley Construction because of "current concerns about getting that levee built back up by this winter".

Bond says concerns raised by Levee district members and local farmers led to that decision.

Bond's company had filed a protest with the US Army Corps of Engineers, claiming Wadley did not qualify as a small business, and therefore should not have been awarded the small business bid to haul clay to the levee.

The Corps sent the protest on to the Small Business Administration.

SBA spokeswoman Tiffani Shea Clements confirms the protest has been withdrawn.

Corps spokesman Jim Pogue says the clay's being used to build the Birds Point Levee back up to 51 feet by November 30.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Heartland Football Friday schedule for 9/2

Submitted by KFVS Web Staff

Thursday, September 1st, 2011, 12:22pm

Here is the Heartland Football Friday schedule for Friday September 2nd.

Missouri

Festus at Cape Central
St. Vincent at Scott City
Chaffee at Portageville
Hayti at Malden
Sikeston at Charleston

Illinois

Carbondale at Herrin
Du Quoin at Harrisburg
Highland at Marion

View Comments | Post a Comment

Park, historic site to reopen after Birds Point Levee breach

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011, 12:19pm

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, MO (KFVS) - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that Big Oak Tree State Park and Towosahgy State Historic Site will reopen to the public on September 2.

MoDNR says the park and historic site were covered with 12 to 16 feet of water and sand after the intentional breach of the Birds Point Levee along the Mississippi River.

"Our staff monitored these two facilities throughout the summer to determine the impact of the breach," said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. "We are pleased to be able to reopen these areas to the public while we continue to make repairs to our facilities."

At Big Oak Tree State Park, the areas open for visitors include the main picnic area and the boardwalk, which takes visitors into the heart of the vast swamp forest.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Southeast Missouri State library conducts survey of original Civil War materials

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011, 10:34am

Southeast Missouri State library conducts survey of original Civil War materials

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library will be conducting a survey of original Civil War materials.

Included in the survey will be materials held by libraries, museums, historic societies, genealogical societies, archives, individuals, State historic sites or other organizations and institutions.

According to Kent Library, the materials will include things like original letters, journals, diaries, photographs, scrapbooks artifacts and other things from that period.

Missouri counties in the survey include: