11/30/07-Concerns about traffic congestion led one Missouri state lawmaker to draft a bill to limit the shutdown of any major highway or interstate in the state.
Rep. Scott Muschany, R-Frontenac, is expected to file legislation this week that would prevent the Missouri Department of Transportation from closing busy roadways for construction for more than 60 consecutive days.
The scheduled shutdown Jan. 2 of state Route 40 from Interstate 170 to Interstate 270 prompted Muschany to act. He said has concerns about the economic impact and public safety with traffic diverted to alternate routes, KSDK-TV in St. Louis reported.
Supporters of the effort to prevent closing busy roadways say MoDOT never has closed a highway while there was work being done on it.
Opponents say it would lengthen the amount of time needed to complete projects. Transportation officials say such limits would extend the $535 million rebuild of two five-mile sections of Route 40 for six to eight years.
Others say the overall price of construction would increase by 20 percent to 30 percent.