Special Innovations Challenge Edition - May 19, 2023

MoDOT employees have proven there’s no shortage of good ideas! Each year, imaginative workers rise to the challenge and generate more than 100 innovations to improve the safety of our employees and travelers, create efficiencies, improve MoDOT’s customer service and save taxpayer dollars.

The road to the showcase floor started last fall with competitions across the state. Innovations Challenge first-round winners were evaluated by statewide teams to determine which would qualify for this year’s showcase held at the Columbia Holiday Inn Expo Center. To kick off the showcase, on April 24, teams of judges for each category listened to presentations from each innovation and ranked their top choices to determine the four winners in each category. 

The winners of the 2023 Innovations Challenge were announced at the April 25 awards luncheon following a morning showcase.

Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger kicked off the award luncheon and extended a warm welcome to guests traveling from 24 state departments of transportation and three members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Chairman Ecker addressed the crowd, saying, “The Innovations Challenge is MoDOT’s greatest brainstorming session of the year, and this is the event where creativity, insight and brilliance of our employees is given the spotlight they deserve.”

Before announcing this year’s category awards, Hassinger told the audience that this is one of his favorite days of the year and how great it is to be in a room with people that are so talented and smart.

Director Patrick McKenna reflected on how he enjoys coming to the Showcase to see the great innovations in this competition each year.

“Everyone that’s here today are all winners in this process because you came forward and made something better. You took the risk and decided to act, and that’s really what it’s all about. You are all leaders, innovators and winners,” McKenna said. 

In this special edition of Connections, we celebrate the creativity and problem-solving skills of MoDOT employees in the Innovations Showcase. 

Commission Chairman Ecker (right) speaks with St. Louis District Maintenance Supervisor Amir Ghadi about an innovation.

Click here for a recap of the showcase.

Click here to view photos from this year’s showcase.

Click here to watch the awards luncheon. 

Click here for a closer look at each innovation at the showcase.

Out of 54 finalists in the categories of Productivity, Projects and Tool and Equipment, the following entries were awarded top honors. Click the innovation name to find more information and view a video.

4th place: 

Concrete Culvert Marker

Northwest District

3rd place: Safety Observer Program

Kansas City District

2nd place:

Swivel DMS Mounted Sign

Kansas City District

1st place:

Lane Shark

Southeast Division

4th place: Asphalt Performance Tests

Construction & Materials Division

3rd place:

Use of RKF in Concrete

Construction & Materials Division

2nd place:

Off-System Bridge Program Regionalization

Design Division

1st place: Invasive Species Strike Team

Southeast District

4th place:

MoDOT Drain Clean

Southeast District

3rd place: Line Cleaner

Northeast District

2nd place:

Sign Stob Puller

Northeast District

1st place: Safety Barrier

St. Louis District

Safety Assessment for Every Roadway (SAFER)

Highway Safety & Traffic Division

Director's Service Award

MoDOT Go App

Southeast District

File Compliance Team

Communications Division

Dickson People's Choice Award

Sign Stob Puller

Northeast District

Special thanks to the Innovations team!

Director McKenna and Commission Chairman Ecker (left) and Commissioner Smith (right) thanked Transportation Planning Specialist Kelly Backues and her team involved in running the annual showcase.

The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news

and feature articles that connect employees statewide.

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Send comments and suggestions to:

bethany.belt@modot.mo.gov

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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