MoDOT decided to make the move after realizing how much money the department saved from improving heavy-traveled highways. The state had allocated federal stimulus dollars. But companies, competing for work during bad economic times, submitted low bids for many of the projects. That left the state with extra stimulus money that it had to use.

The state Transportation Department plans to resurface more than 13 highways in mid-Missouri, including four in Boone County:

• The Interstate 70 outer road from Route E to the end of state maintenance.
• Route KK from Route K to the end of state maintenance.
• Route WW from North Fork Creek to Route J in Callaway County.
• Route ZZ from Route TT to I-70.

The department plans to use money left over from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the federal stimulus, to complete the projects, MoDOT District-5 Engineer Roger Schwartze said. 

"We've bid a number of those projects and put that money to work, but the projects are coming in under budget, and that means that we're now able to add additional projects, so we're going to resurface more routes than what was originally planned with the initial list of projects," Schwartze said.

The Lighthouse Community Church sits on Highway WW, right outside the Columbia city limits. Pastor Randall Germann said he enjoys the church's location, but he would also enjoy the state repairing the highway.

"The highway shoulders are less than desirable," he said. "It's a fairly narrow road and it's curvy, but an improvement to the highway would be wonderful."

Many drivers ask the department to improve narrow, two-lane state roads, but it often comes down to money, Schwartze said.

"A lot of folks would like us to put shoulders on those roads, but we simply don't have enough money to widen them and do what a lot of folks would like us to do in those areas," Schwartze said.

Resurfacing the road can lower accident rates, he said.

"Anytime we improve the condition of a road, it does improve the accident (rate) unless it's to the point that drivers start driving at a faster speed," Schwartze said.

Germann said he or his church members have not experienced driving problems on the smaller highway because they use precaution.

"It's (about) safety and being cautious. People get in too big of a hurry," he said.

MoDOT approved the addition for the new resurfacing projects for 2010, and intends to finish the new projects in 2014. For a list of planned roadwork, click on the links above.