To The Editor:

This letter is regarding the condition of Highway O in Warren County and the attempt to contact the appropriate legislators regarding this issue.  

As a voter, we are repeatedly told to contact our legislators regarding issues.  This is something I rarely do as the response (or lack of it) is often more frustrating than the issue you are grappling with.  However, after driving the obstacle course that is now Highway O, I decided to contact Jeanie Riddle and Jeff Porter.  Jeff Porter did not respond at all and following is my contact and response from Jeanne Riddle:

“I am contacting you regarding the condition of HWY O in Warren County.  This is a state road that is a dangerous obstacle course at this point and has been for several months. I challenge you to come drive it from Marthasville to Hwy M.  We are all exhausted trying to avoid the LARGE yellow patches that have been put down by the State Highway Department.  They dig huge holes and fill with the yellow matter that disintegrates with rain or normal use.  It is tearing up our vehicles and is dangerous as you try to avoid these horrible holes on a curvy road. All indicators are that is it being blamed on trucks using the road.  Hwy D, Hwy T, and TT seem to be safe even with truck traffic.  What is the quality of the materials used on HWY O?  If trucks are the reason, there are MANY roads that should look like O.  Regardless of the blaming factor, this road needs corrected and done with quality so it will not happen again.”

The response:   

“I check with Mo-DOT and this is what they told me (see below).

‘Route O has an active quarry that is hauling clay material every day.  Highway D, T, and TT does not have this.  Also, not every road is built exactly the same.  Route O like several other routes in the area were never originally designed to handle the legal loads of today of 80,000 pounds.  We have seen this issue also on Route A in Warren County a couple years ago.  The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is currently digging out the bad spots on Route O and filling in with rock, or what you have called yellow mater.  The rock will stabilize the roadway in those areas.  Beginning the first week of June MoDOT will asphalt the road repair areas and will continue to address bad areas.  The speed limit remains 35 mph, and signs indicating rough road and road work ahead are prevalent throughout the area. In MoDOT’s 5 year construction program, the entire section of Route O is scheduled for asphalt resurfacing in 2023.   I hope this answers your questions. 

Thank you and if you need further information, please feel free to contact us. -Mary Cottom’”

I responded to this email asking to know the name and title of the person making the decisions on HWY O to use materials that would not sustain 80,000 pounds as there are semi-trucks using the road continuously.  I asked to know the names and titles of the individuals making the decisions to have this road resurfaced in TWO years considering the condition and if the materials would be the quality to sustain 80,000 pounds but did not get a response.

It appears that we are to be satisfied to deal with this issue based on the news bulletins the State Highway Department issues with information that prolongs the problem.  The person making decisions for a less quality road for those taxpayers who pay the same rate regardless of where they live should be accessible to the public for accountability.

I am disappointed that Jeff Porter did not respond at all and feel that my issue was passed off to the Highway Department and that answer should be good enough.   It is not good enough for me.