WARREN COUNTY, Mo. – A tractor trailer rolled over Thursday morning on I-70 near mile marker 196. This is the third rollover in that location since Monday.
Traffic was backed up for a couple of miles as crews worked for hours to clean up the accident.
“That could’ve very easily been me, and I have two children that I have to protect,” driver Cody Buchanan said.
Buchanan is a general contractor and drives trucks and trailers on this stretch of the highway frequently. He had his own close call in the same location on Friday.
“A semi that had to make that maneuver pushed me up into the barrier,” he said.
Check FOX 2’s traffic map for real-time updates.
Wright City Alderman Ramiz Hakim says new MoDOT barriers creating narrow lanes at the Stracks Church Overpass are leading to crashes like this one.
“The exact same spot has been a pinch point and a constant issue for at least the past couple of weeks,” Alderman Hakim said.
This is the third roll-over at this location since Monday. Missouri State Highway Patrol says they have had 21 calls for service around mile marker 196 since Sept. 6.
The work zone is related to MoDOT’s Improve I-70 project, the largest project in MoDOT’s history. Program Director Eric Kopinski says their work zone design meets MoDOT and national standards.
“We’re very frustrated. The public is frustrated. There’s been crashes that are happening here,” Kopinski said. “We have made a number of adjustments to try and improve this area.”
He said there have been more signs added and just Wednesday night, work crews made the approach more gradual.
“They’ve made some changes over the last couple of days but again today, we see the same exact issue in the same exact spot,” Alderman Hakim said.
After Thursday’s rollover, MoDOT is promising more adjustments overnight. But Kopinski said a part of the problem is people speeding.
“We do have the speed limit reduced in a number of locations across the state and that is what is needed to travel to safely make it through the work zone area,” he said.
Multiple sources tell FOX 2 News that MoDOT and MSHP will meet later this week to discuss more ways to address the situation.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
