Built in the 1970s in farm fields east of Springfield, the original Route 65 driving lanes now carry nearly 70,000 vehicles a day due to the decades of economic growth experienced by the region. To accommodate that growth and provide drivers with a safer and easier ride, MoDOT knew it needed to rebuild the highway.
To get the $7.9 million job done as quickly as possible, MoDOT closed Route 65 in each direction in short segments between interchanges. While it was inconvenient to drivers, MoDOT officials knew it would keep workers and drivers safer, while also completing the rebuild much faster than keeping some lanes open. After just 42 days, drivers were able to get back to their normal commute on Route 65 and enjoy a modernized highway that better accommodates the growing number of people in Springfield.
America's Transportation Awards 