MoDot is looking for ways to increase funding for roads and bridges across the state, but Area Engineer Bob Lynch says they need to find the cash to hit more than just the highways. Lynch tells KRMS that they really want to find ways to help improve the overall condition of the state’s travel system, including the secondary roads that affect rural residents. Right now about 75% of those roads are considered to be in “good condition.” Lynch says they also need money to fix bridges.
Lynch says a lot of the deterioration comes from weathered steel, rust, and older concrete mixtures. The ratings system to grade bridges begins with a 9 for brand new structures. Anything graded at a 4 or below is considered to be in “poor” condition based on federal standards.
