I-44 Planning study, Joplin to Pacifc MO

[Revive 755]

http://www.modot.org/i44planningforprogress/  The actual study document is ~62 MB.

Couple comments:
* Another indication of how much MoDOT dislikes rest areas:  having at least a 120 mile gap (page 23/484).
* From page 291/484: "There are three interchanges in the corridor that have loop ramp
configurations. Ninety-six of them are sufficient"
* Considering that the section around Pacific will reach Level of Service F next year (page 200/484), I have to wonder how well the section that widens out to six lanes in St. Louis County will perform.

[Scott5114]

In 2007 and 2008, I used to travel I-44 west of Springfield frequently (around once a month or so) and never really had much of a problem with it. Well, except for that one time this lady almost changed lanes into my fender around Joplin, but that's not MoDOT's fault...

[mightyace]

Well, except for that one time this lady almost changed lanes into my fender around Joplin, but that's not MoDOT's fault...

Unless MODOT issues drivers licenses in Missouri!

[Revive 755]

I've seen I-44 get pretty heavy between Springfield and St. Clair, but I think extending the six lane section to Sullivan and a few more climbing lanes would probably be the best fixes for the time.  Main problem seems to be someone going speed limit trying to pass a vehicle under the speed limit and 10+ vehicles going greater than the speed limit bunch up behind him.  Although I would like to see the section at Rolla fixed so it doesn't have that lousy 60 mph speed limit.

[Scott5114]

Oh, god, I forgot about Rolla...yes, Rolla needs a bypass or something. Such a pain.

[US71]

Oh, god, I forgot about Rolla...yes, Rolla needs a bypass or something. Such a pain.

The Rolla section is definitely outdated. I think the US 63 interchange may have been rebuilt, but otherwise, it's generally the same as it was when it was US 66.

[Revive 755]

The section between Exits 185 (Rte E) and 186 (US 63) had auxiliary lanes added not to long ago, but at the expense of the shoulders:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.9577,-91.773863&spn=0,359.956055&z=15&layer=c&cbll=37.957412,-91.778043&panoid=f_xtgf2Gmtj5U_4iFF6l5w&cbp=12,58.782563876646954,,0,11.240234375000004
The idea was to help relieve congestion on often the bumper-to-bumper US 63.