Intro: MoDOT recieved a 2 million dollar grant to study the effects of rebuilding I-70 with 4 additional lanes.
Micah Wiener has more from the capitol:
Trucks would be left in their own lanes under a new plan proposed by the Federal Government.
The US Transportation Department wants to look at the effects of expansion stretching across Missouri and 3 other states.
The cost of rebuilding I-70 with eight lanes, including 4 for trucks, is estimated at 3.5 billion dollars, money MoDoT does not have.
Jeff Briggs is a MODOT spokesman:
Briggs says designated truck lanes are essential, becuase the number of trucks on the road is growing twice as fast as the number of cars.
Micah Wiener has more from the Capitol. The study is funded by the US Department of Transportation, will survey a 750 mile stretch across Missouri and three Eastern States. According to MODOT, some areas of Missouri face up to 40 percent of all traffic from trucks. Jeff Briggs is a spokesman for MODOT. He says that truck traffic is growing twice as fast as car traffic.
The cost of rebuilding the Interstate across Missouri to accomodate Truckers would cost 3.5 billion dollars, but MODOT does not have avaliable funding. From the Capitol, I'm Micah Wiener.
Actuality: GRIDLOCK.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description:
Intro: Missouri will recieve 2 million dollars to study a plan to expand I-70, and give truckers 4 lanes to themselves.
Actuality: TRUCKS.WAV
Run Time: 00:11
Description: "With our location in the middle of the country... It might make good sence to seperate car and truck traffic. This study will give us a chance to dig into that."
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