No Safety Deficiencies Identified; Proactive Steps Recommended in the Future as Funding Allows
JEFFERSON CITY – A multi-agency task force found no safety deficiencies on a 27-mile stretch of U.S. Route 63 from Columbia to Moberly in a road safety audit Missouri Department of Transportation officials released today. However, in consideration of future increases in traffic volumes, the audit recommended enhancing safety along the stretch of Route 63 with pavement, guard cable and signing improvements in areas identified within the report, when funding is available.
“Based on the audit findings, we believe in being proactive by implementing a combination of traffic solutions in the future to enhance safety along the Route 63 corridor in mid-Missouri,” MoDOT Central District Engineer David Silvester said.
The team reviewed 10-years of crash data (2008 through 2017) and focused on cross-median, wrong-way, and intersection crashes. Overall, there were no apparent trends found in the data reviewed and the average crash rate for this section of U.S. Route 63 is less than the statewide average for similar types of roadways.
As part of the assessment, the team also considered impacts from several safety enhancements constructed within the study area during the 10-year survey period and future enhancements currently identified within MoDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
Completed enhancements included pavement resurfacing, J-Turn intersections, and sign modifications. Many of these enhancements resulted from a previous road safety audit of the Route 63 corridor in 2012. Future STIP projects (2018-2022) include pavement improvements
within the corridor and the creation of a northbound right-turn lane on Route 63 to eastbound Missouri Route 124 to Hallsville.
Although the assessment team did not identify any safety deficiencies within the study area and did not make any recommendations in that regard, the team did consider perceived future increases in traffic volumes and recommended being proactive. As a result, the team suggested the following actions in the future, when funding is available:
· Further analysis of intersections at Route 124 and at Dripping Springs Road to determine if safety enhancements like geometric improvements and high friction surface treatments would be beneficial.
· Installation of guard cable from Interstate 70 to Route 124
· Signing improvements at intersections along the audited route to enhance the prevention of wrong-way movements and related crashes.
“At this time, no funding has been identified for these recommendations,” Silvester said. “MoDOT will work with its planning partners to prioritize funding these improvements along with other district transportation needs.”
An executive summary of the audit report is posted on MoDOT’s website at www.modot.org/central.
