MoDot looking for ideas on I-70, including solar panels
MoDot engineers are focusing on the future of I-70 in their “Road to Tomorrow” initiative. They said it is about the reconstruction of I-70, which would include additional lanes. The problem is there is no way to pay for the estimated $2 billion project.
“It’s just not something we can tackle with the funding that we have right now. That’s why we’re reaching outside. We’re trying to pull these ideas in. What else is out there to help us fund a $2 billion dollar project,” said David Silvester, district engineer for MoDot.
MoDot has put out an open call for ideas. They’re looking for innovative solutions to fund such a massive undertaking. Engineers have received around 200 submissions from all over the country and are scrutinizing about 20 of them.
The ideas are everything from advertising on MoDot message boards to what sounds like science fiction — replacing the asphalt of the interstate with solar panels.
“They generate power that could be sold to utility companies, but also they produce heat, and so, that production of heat would reduce the need for winter operations like salt on the roadways. The roads would pretty much defrost themselves,” said Silvester.
MoDot has been struggling for years to fund projects and maintenance around the state. A big hit came last year when voters said “no” to a sales tax increase for highway maintenance.
MoDot said it’s current yearly construction budget is not nearly enough to take I-70 into the future.
“We’ve talked about sales tax, we’ve talked about fuel tax in this state. Missourians really have to dig deep to figure out what’s the right way to fund transportation,” said Silvester.
