MoDOT wins Geotab's Excellence in Safety Award | |
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MoDOT’s team efforts to put safety first and eliminate at-risk driving behaviors were recognized with the Safety Champion Excellence in Safety Award at the annual Geotab Connect conference in Las Vegas, NV, in mid-February.
Geotab is an international telematics company that provides connected vehicle solutions - vehicle and asset tracking - to more than 50,000 clients in 160 countries. The Excellence in Safety Award recognizes a single organization that is leading the way in its use of connected vehicle technology to drive better outcomes for their business, employees and community.
| Left to right: BlueArrow Telematics Account Manager Melvin McNeill, MoDOT Chief Safety & Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth, Geotab CEO & Founder Neil Cawse, MoDOT Maintenance Liaison Paul Denkler and BlueArrow Telematics Founder & CEO Stuart Lamm. | |
The winner is selected by a panel of Geotab partners and industry members based on a scoring system for an organization's implementation, performance and impact on driver and fleet safety.
"This award truly belongs to our employees," said Chief Safety & Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth. "It's through their effort and choices to put safety first and eliminate at-risk driving behaviors that they are showing MoDOT to be a global leader in driver safety."
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Get to know the ins and outs of MoDOT | |
MoDOT is an enormous organization that focuses daily on providing the best transportation system for Missouri. In order to achieve this goal, nearly 5,000 employees are required across 19 divisions within seven districts across the state.
Many individuals, especially new employees, may need help to truly understand the purpose and need of each area of MoDOT. Human Resources' Employee Development team has created the MoDOT Department Overview video that highlights the importance and purpose of each division at MoDOT to help inform employees how the MoDOT team works together to meet the needs of the citizens of Missouri.
The video is available in MoDOT U: MoDOT Department Overview.
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Buck O'Neil Bridge arch demolished on Feb. 15 | |
The video below shows the demolition of the north arch of the existing Buck O'Neil Bridge structure, which took place Feb. 15. This is the first of three demolitions taking place throughout the next few months. Crews will salvage as many materials as possible from the existing bridge during each demolition. | For more information about the project, click here. | |
Don Welge Memorial Bridge construction update | |
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Construction of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge to replace the current Chester Bridge, connecting the cities of Perryville, MO and Chester, IL via Missouri Route 51/Illinois Route 150, is well underway.
The bridge will feature three towers, one on the Missouri side, one in the river and one on the Illinois side. The footing and lower part of the Missouri tower is already complete. During construction of the Missouri footing, crews used 1,000 cubic yards of material, which is the equivalent of 100 trucks of concrete.
According to Project Director Brian Okenfuss, 75 people have been working six days a week on the structure. Two drilling crews are working 12-hour shifts and are nearly half finished.
| Construction crews continue work on the Missouri towers on the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Click the photo above to view the full album on Flickr. | |
The center tower is in the Mississippi River and has eight casings filled with concrete. Now that those casings are filled, crews have started constructing a cofferdam around them to make a large box. Contractor crews will drain the water to form a bathtub-like structure in the river so they can start forming the footing.
The final tower is on the Illinois side of the river, and crews are in the process of installing eight drilled shafts. Following their completion, footings will come next.
Dirt work on the Missouri side will continue in the spring.
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Love the body you're in
Learning what healthy means for you
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Body positive is a movement that promotes acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender and physical abilities. Building body acceptance is vital - having a negative body image can lead to eating disorders, mental health conditions, performance-enhancing substance use, depression or suicide.
How to Build a Positive Body Image
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Practice gratitude: Be thankful for what your body does for you every day.
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Scrub your social media feed: Remove apps or unfollow people who make you feel bad about yourself.
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Surround yourself with positive people: They'll support and love you for who you are, not how you look.
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Give yourself encouragement: Post inspirational quotes on your mirror or repeat a positive saying each morning.
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Focus on yourself as a whole person: Make a list of all the good things you do for others.
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Shift your energy when you're feeling bad: Go for a walk with a friend, write in a journal or practice mindful meditation.
Do's and Don'ts for Parents
Provided by Mental Health America
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DO:
- Love and accept them for who they are.
- Keep an eye on their social media feed and talk about what they're seeing.
- Be aware of changes in eating or exercise habits.
- Listen for negative comments about themselves.
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DON'T:
- Comment or focus on their (or your own) weight.
- Shame your child for eating certain foods.
- Over-control their eating.
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Making a difference for Kansas City's unsheltered | |
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In early 2023, MoDOT released an innovative Request For Proposal to find an organization in Kansas City to help reduce the number of unsheltered on our state right of way and improve their living conditions. MoDOT specifically wanted the chosen organization to:
- Engage unsheltered on our right of way with respect and dignity and connect them to resources placing them on the path to a better life.
- Monitor likely camp locations to ensure quick engagement and safe resolutions.
- Bridge the complexity of private charitable organizations and foundations bringing in significant non-state resources to address the unsheltered issues.
- Coordinate timely camp clean up, eliminating fire hazards.
- Address general litter and graffiti in and around downtown Kansas City.
The Downtown Council of Kansas City Community Improvement Districts (CID) submitted the winning proposal. MoDOT contracted with them in April 2023 to cover the downtown loop area and approximately one mile of all state highways leading into downtown. The first several months were challenging due to the sheer volume of camps; however, MoDOT no longer has any large encampments on state right of way, and the risk of a damaging fire is greatly reduced. MoDOT Maintenance forces also partnered with the CID by providing traffic control when needed.
“The results have been amazing,” District Engineer Chris Redline said. “We are now dealing with one or two unsheltered folks at a time and engage them before they have an opportunity to establish a significant camp.”
One recent example of how this partnership is making a difference was in January during an extremely long cold stretch. The CID owns a building they call the Beehive, where several not-for-profit organizations offer the unsheltered housing options, healthcare, meals and other services - all free of charge. During January's cold stretch, the CID turned the Beehive into an all-day-long warming shelter. They were able to transport several of the individuals out from under state bridges and to the Beehive and get them the help they needed.
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The CID's Beehive serves as an all-day-long warming shelter during the cold stretch last January. | |
“The benefits of this innovative partnership with the CID go well beyond cleaning right of way and preventing infrastructure damage,” Redline continued. “We have new relationships and good will with the downtown community. Most importantly, we are helping the most vulnerable people in society and building a more positive future for our community.” | |
District EOC activates seven times in January | |
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With the new year also came multiple rounds of winter weather in the Northwest District. Throughout the district, crews faced heavy snow, blowing snow and drifts, low temperatures, rain/snow mix and freezing rain at times. From Jan. 5 to Jan. 23, 2024, the Northwest District’s EOC activated seven times. From Oct. 1, 2023, to Jan. 1, 2024, 15 new maintenance workers were hired and experienced winter operations for the first time.
New employees are required to spend four hours riding in a snowplow with a seasoned employee and then four hours driving while a seasoned employee is riding with them before they can plow by themselves. Additionally, during an employee’s first three years with MoDOT, they are required to go through snow academy, which involves several smaller parts of snow removal such as tire chain installation, snowplow and spreader mounting, MMS tracking and onboard computer usage for product disbursement.
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A Northwest District route during one of their January snow events. | |
A MoDOT truck in front of a snow drift during one of the Northwest District's January snow events. | |
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Pat Walker, maintenance worker in Clearmont, joined MoDOT in October 2023. His first time plowing was uneventful as it was a very light snow, but he described the January snow events as “quite an experience.”
“The most difficult part of plowing for me is trying to get the bridges clean because you need to get right next to the edge and pick up speed quickly to make the snow go up over the side of the bridge,” Walker said.
This round of winter weather events brought new training needs to light. A few examples that maintenance staff want to include in future training includes dealing with -30° windchills and sub-zero temperatures, using wings on trucks to move drifts or bench snow and training on the truck mounted snow blower which hasn’t been used for several years.
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Southwest District project moves to phase 4 | |
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Contractor crews in Rogersville have diligently worked on the U.S. Route 60 and Missouri Route 125 intersection, managing daily traffic as they progress towards the final outcome: Route 60 ascending over Route 125. Currently, the focus has been on constructing Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls, bridge girders and new ramps, accompanied by the installation of two new outer roads on the north side of Route 60 to enhance traffic flow.
Excitingly, more progress is on the horizon. By the end of February, the intersection improvements will transition into phase 4 of the five-phase project. This phase involves the closure of Route 125 at the Route 60 interchange and the removal of signals on Route 60. This adjustment provides Route 60 through traffic with a preview of the finished project, eliminating the need for a stoplight at the intersection and putting an end to the long waits for a green light. The duration of phase 4 is expected to span three months, with the goal of having the intersection operational before the commencement of the school year in August 2024.
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East side MSE wall piling. | |
West side piling and excavation. | |
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The aim of the Missouri Route 125 and U.S. Route 60 Intersection Improvement Project is to enhance the safety and efficiency of travel for both Route 60 and Route 125 in this area. Motorists can expect reduced travel times through the intersection, particularly during peak hours. The interchange design strikes the optimal balance, considering current traffic volumes, anticipated growth, motorist safety and minimizing overall delays for travelers navigating through the intersection.
To stay up to date on the project, click here.
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Retiree attends St. Louis District public meeting | |
St. Louis District Engineer Tom Blair (left) and Rich Johnson, former MoDOT transportation project designer | |
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Several St. Louis area citizens attended the district's Feb. 22 public meeting to discuss updating sidewalks and signals along the Route 231 (Telegraph Road) corridor between Franru and the Meramec River to meet Americans with Disability Act requirements prior to the roadway being resurfaced. Among the attendees was Rich Johnson - former MoDOT transportation project designer.
Johnson retired from MoDOT in 2002. At the meeting, he shared with District Engineer Tom Blair that he was involved with the design of Route 231 when it was expanded from two lanes to five, completing his design work using drafting tools.
To stay up to date on the Route 231 project, click here.
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Ted Porting
Central District Senior Equipment Technician
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When Ted Porting joined MoDOT more than 10 years ago, he brought with him the experience of a distinguished 25-year career as a master technician at a local automotive repair shop. The wealth of knowledge he developed there has helped him become a pivotal figure in the Central District’s fleet maintenance operations.
A typical day for Porting commences with addressing any equipment units requiring immediate attention for the day’s maintenance operations. Whether it’s troubleshooting issues or conducting necessary repairs, he ensures that our fleet is in optimal condition to tackle daily tasks. From scheduled inspections and routine oil changes to undertaking major mechanical repairs like transmission replacements or engine overhauls, Porting’s expertise covers a wide spectrum of technical challenges.
One of the greatest joys he finds in his role is the constant variety and challenges presented by the diverse range of equipment and vehicles he works with. This keeps him engaged and continuously sharpens his skills, making each day fulfilling. Beyond the technical aspects, Porting also finds gratification in the sense of camaraderie among his colleagues - a sentiment he attributed to his father’s tenure at MoDOT. Witnessing the friendly interactions and familial atmosphere among his father’s peers inspired Porting to follow in his footsteps and join the MoDOT family.
While he cherishes moments with family, Porting’s passion for giving back is exemplified at work by his participation in the Innovations Challenge, and outside of work by dedicating his free time as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts – a testament to his commitment to both personal and community endeavors.
In Porting, MoDOT has not only found a highly skilled technician but also a dedicated team player who embodies the values of ‘being better’ and ‘being one team.’ His commitment to maintaining and improving our infrastructure makes him an invaluable asset to the organization and a source of inspiration for his peers.
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The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news
and feature articles that connect employees statewide.
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Comments
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bethany.belt@modot.mo.gov
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MoDOT Communications
P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-2840 | www.modot.org
Editor: Sr. Communications Specialist Bethany Belt
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