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Ask the Patch Pro: MoDOT Answers Your Questions

MoDOT expert Linda Wilson Horn will answer your questions in the comments section on Friday between noon and 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18.

 

It's time for another edition of Ask the Patch Pro, where each week we tackle a different topic and open up the comments section for questions. Our team of experts stop in to help you out and answer your questions.

This week, Patch teamed up with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to answer your road, construction and traffic questions. 

MoDOT Community Relations Coordinator Linda Wilson Horn has agreed to help us out this week. She will answer readers' questions in the comment section of the Patch sites from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18. 

Got a question? Ask below!

Related Topics: Ask The Patch Pro, Construction, Missouri Department Of Transportation, MoDOT, Roads, and Traffic

lana kochelle

6:59 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Regarding the westbound Mason turn lane from Manchester: Whe Manchester was resurfaced a few years ago, the drain grates were not raised to be even with the surface, which has created 2 very dangerous craters in the turn lane. Drivers veer into other lanes to avoid, and these craters wreak havoc on allignment. How long does this have to continue before it is fixed?

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Linda Wilson Horn

1:14 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

I checked with our maintenance crews and they said there is a leveling problem with the grate on the right turn from westbound Manchester to Mason Road. Our maintenance crews are working on a plan to correct this problem.

Nathan Kirsch

7:05 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

MoDOT just completed work at the intersection of Hwy A and Mexico Road in Wentzville Missouri, but for some reason didn't put left turn yields on the light. Every other stoplight on Hwy A has left turn yields, so I am curious if this is something that can be added. When it is not rush hour there is often no traffic coming either way, but you must wait as there is no yield signal. Why?

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Linda Wilson Horn

11:05 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

I'm checking with our traffic engineers to see what is going on here. I'll post more today as I get information.

Brenda

8:17 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

In the Affton area there is an intersection at Weber and New Hampshire roads that has train tracks going over both streets. They smoothed out the tracks crossing Weber Rd. but did not smooth the tracks crossing New Hampshire. Any idea why since they were at the intersection already and had to be aware those tracks were close to being just as bad as those over Weber.....

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:24 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

These are not state roads. I'm guessing you need to talk to St Louis County Highway Department.

mike

8:32 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

can the stoplights be adjusted for the drivers turning on to east 255 from telegraph? It can take 2-3 cycles to get through the light in morning and afternoon. they are way overcompensated for the traffic coming north on telegraph! You can sit there and watch no cars coming northbound but you do not have the arrow

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:26 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

I'm assuming you are southbound on Telegraph turning left to the ramp to eastbound I-255. Is that correct? Is this problem during rush hours or more mid morning to mid afternoon? I know in the morning rush, the northbound Telegraph volume is extremely heavy so it gets a lot of green time. Any more details would be helpful. I will give those to our traffic engineers to look into.

Mike

8:47 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Congestion on hwy 40/61 between hwy 70 and hwy 94 is becoming increesingly difficult. When can we expect to see this stretch of 40/61 expanded from 2 lanes to 3 or more?

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:27 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

We have the design for how to add a third lane in each direction, but there is no funding. Our federal and state funding for transportation has been cut in half in the past few years. We are aware of this congestion and just waiting for funding to become available.

mike

8:56 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

a major reason there is a need for longer cycle is this on ramp is used by many trucks that take longer to get rolling. one truck can use the whole cycle

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:28 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Mike -- I'm guessing this comment is back in reference to the Telegraph to eastbound I-255. Is that right?

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Gregg Palermo

9:38 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Thanks for taking the time Linda! The left turn arrow southbound on 141 at Highlands Blvd. (near Costco for reference) has taken forever to turn green, especially at night. I've waited for what has felt like as long as 10 minutes and several cycles. Any suggestions?

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:29 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

That doesn't sound right. Sounds like a sensor could be out. I will have one of technicians check the equipment. Anytime you see something like this, you can call MoDOT's 24/7 Customer Service Center at 314-275-1500. They can get someone out right away to check on it.

Matt Hay

9:43 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

At one point the lights on 141 from Arnold to 44 were synchronized to increase traffic flow, and prevent being get stuck at every light. Initially, it seemed like it worked very well, however, that no longer seems to be the case. They in no way seem synchronized anymore. Has something changed?

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:31 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

I'm not aware of any changes to this route lately. What time of day are you experiencing this and which direction are you traveling. The traffic engineers need that information to look into your concern.

mike

10:35 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Yes. The on ramp to 255 from telegraph south is used heavily by trucks that move very slow. Dump trucks for example. The line in the afternoon can stretch the length of the bridge

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:57 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

thanks. I will share those details with the traffic engineers and see what they can do.

Joe P.

10:41 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Why are there still construction cones on 141 between Ladue and Olive? Creating a speed trap, I have yet to see anything being worked on there for the past month or more.

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Linda Wilson Horn

10:56 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Crews are still doing landscaping work to do as weather permits. It will be finished by spring. I don't believe we have the speed reduced all the time any more. The speed limit should only be reduced when the cones are blocking a lane. If you see speed reduced signs and no lanes are closed, you can immediately call our 24/7 customer service center at 314-275-1500.

Pat J

11:08 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Regarding the Hwy. M exit on I-55 south of Imperial, I understand re-doing the southbound side of the exit-was a mess! My question regards the northbound side. That was a lot of work (and probably money) used to make that change. Was it necessary? Seems to me that side of 55 was ok. I don't drive by there every day, were there accidents on that side , or some other reason that all those changes were done?

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Nathan Kirsch

11:14 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

pointless question if it's already approved and done... lol

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Linda Wilson Horn

1:11 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

All of the improvements at I-55 and M were built because traffic volumes at this interchange had increased dramatically in the past decade. The new ramps will be able to more safely and efficiently handle this traffic.

Geri Kirsch

11:31 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Hi, thanks for helping us out. Please look into the intersection of Hwy. 94 and O'Fallon Road in St. Charles County. There is a pot hole there now for what seems like years and no one will fix it. It is frustrating. Thanks very much

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Linda Wilson Horn

11:35 am on Friday, January 18, 2013

Which direction of 94 is the pothole in? Is it westbound heading toward I-64/40 or the other direction?

Bob Franey

12:02 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

Linda

Lemay Ferry Road between Mehl and the 255 Entrance Ramp the Stop Lights are not syncronized leading to long backups in the am and pm rush hours. Is this something that can be looked at?

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Linda Wilson Horn

12:52 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

Yes. I can have the signals looked into. Which direction are you traveling? I would assume the backup is northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening. But the direction you are experiencing the problem is really important to know so the engineers know what to look for.

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Linda Wilson Horn

2:49 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

Our traffic engineers reported back to me that there isn't anything else they can do at rush hour. It is just extremely congested with the access on and off the interstate. Sorry.

From my view

1:35 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

The stoplight at Laclede Station and Manchester (Hwy 100) in Maplewood was adjusted before the I-64 shutdown. It has never been adjusted back to a sensor timing. Is that the state or St. Louis county? Many people run this light across Manchester at night when there is no traffic because the light is extremely long in changing.

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Linda Wilson Horn

1:59 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

It actually might be Maplewood's. Inside the city limits of Maplewood, they own Manchester Road. This looks like it is right on the line and I'm not sure whether the city limits fall west of Laclede Station or east of it. I will have our traffic engineers double check it.

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Linda Wilson Horn

2:46 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

I found out this signal is controlled by St Louis County. You would need to contact them.

Kathie Tryson

1:38 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

How long is the Vandeventer exit from/entrance to Highway 40/64 going to be closed? It seems like we just lived through the Highway 40 closure for a year, then Grand Boulevard over Highway 40 closed for more than a year, and now this. I commute from U City to the Tower Grove area and am tired of always having to find alternate routes.

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Linda Wilson Horn

2:08 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

We had hoped to rebuild the four bridges east of Kingshighway when we did the big I-64 project in 2007-2010, but there just wasn't enough money available at that time. BJC has also pitched in on this one to add new ramps so when we are done there will be more access to this area off the interstate and hopefully will relieve Kingshighway traffic some. I don't have the exact dates for the Vandeventer ramp. What I have so far from the contractor is that the ramp from Vandeventer to westbound 64 will close January 25. The ramp from eastbound I-64 to exit to Vandeventer will close late spring/summer. I don't think these will be closed the entire time, but I don't have exact dates right now. The majority of the work is going to be finished at the end of 2013 with some things rolling through spring 2014. To stay up to date on what is closing/opening and when, here's a link to our project webpage: http://www.modot.org/stlouis/major_projects/TowerGroveInterchange.htm

Deanne Petersen

3:21 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

For years the westbound 64/40 Daniel Boone bridge has had lights at night to help drivers due to the narrow lanes. I've noticed, at least over the past several weeks, that the lights are no longer on at night. I'm just curious if there is a reason for this?

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Linda Wilson Horn

3:35 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

The lights are just for extra safety since the bridge is so narrow. The conduit to the lights tends to get hit a lot and we have to fix it. I will get a maintenance report that they need to be repaired again. Your headlights are actually sufficient to light the road. The lights are just an additional safety precaution. This bridge will be removed in late 2015 after we build the new bridge, so we only have a couple more years of driving on it.

Linda Wilson Horn

4:04 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

I'm signing out for the day. Thanks for all the great questions today. Remember if you see a pothole or malfunctioning signal or any other problem, you can call MoDOT's 24/7 Customer Service at 314-275-1500.

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Jordan Lanham

4:09 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

Thanks so much for your time Linda! We appreciate you answering all of these great questions!

Tim

12:09 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013

I have a street light out on the corner of new florissant and spring dr. has been out for a few weeks makin the whole area pretty dark. how do i go out having a crew look at it?

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David Altman

12:53 am on Monday, February 25, 2013

On northbound 141 between Ladue and Olive, is it my imagination or is the far right lane which is an exit only lane for Olive, narrower than other two lanes?

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Phil Gonzalez

8:46 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

Who is in charge of the bridge & road construction at Hanna & Vance & Fishpot creek and Hanna?

There has not been any work done to FINISH the road now that the bridge is in.

This is UNACCEPTABLE.

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Patty Burnley

12:04 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Why are there so many holes in the road on the Maryland Heights Expressway between 364 and Marine?

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