MoDOT asks drivers to be alert following deadly crashes

MoDOT officials are reminding drivers they need your help to keep I-70 safe.

This message comes after two fatal accidents closed the interstate for nearly 8 hours Monday.

Monday was an example of how quickly things can go tragically wrong at high speeds.

MoDOT officials said the safety of drivers on one of our busy roads is of high priority.

Cruising down the lanes of I-70 is a daily routine for many drivers in Mid-Missouri.

Officials said taking your eyes off the road for even a second at 70 miles per hour could be deadly.

“You’re covering a lot of ground per second and just that one second you look away from the road you’ve covered at least 100 feet of pavement,” said MoDOT engineer David Silvester.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation into the crashes is ongoing, but traffic crash reports show both happened when a vehicle rear-ended another vehicle. Officials said to know what’s around you when cruising down the road.

“Paying attention to the surroundings, paying attention to road signs, construction signs, work zones, other vehicles around you,” said Silvester.

Officials said they do get comments about the congested interstate. MoDOT said some dollars from the transportation sales tax that was voted down earlier this month was earmarked to widen the interstate from 4 lanes to 6.

“It is a heavily traveled road in the state and that’s not going to go away. By all projections is it going to increase.”

MoDOT said even without the transportation sales tax, crews will continue to maintain the road and patrol it to make sure it’s safe.