Though Warren County will likely be assigned to a new MoDOT district beginning next month, projects that are scheduled for this year will be completed as planned. This year, more than 30 miles of roads in the county will receive treatment to improve their conditions, according to MoDOT officials. The projects include resurfacing Interstate 70, the service roads to the west of Warrenton and Route OO. The work is expected to cost almost $3.4 million. Two weeks ago, MoDOT Director Kevin Keith unveiled a new five-year plan that will reduce the department’s staff by 1,200, close 135 facilities and sell more than 740 pieces of equipment. As part of his proposal, the districts are being redrawn to cover larger geographic areas of the state and reduce the number of districts from 10 to seven. The three district offices that will close are in Macon, Joplin and Willow Springs MoDOT is facing a budget crunch as annual funding has plunged from $1.2 billion to $600 million for each of the next five years. Officials said the proposed restructuring will save $512 million, with the savings coming from reduced salaries and benefits, facility and equipment costs. With MoDOT focusing more on road and bridge maintenance, that means fewer new projects will be started. “We are committed to providing good, level service all across the state,” Northeast District Engineer Paula Gough said. Though Warren County will likely transition to the St. Louis District next month, Ervin Fackler, Northeast District area engineer, said the department’s new direction won’t affect this year’s scheduled projects. “We’re still moving forward with our scheduled projects,” Fackler told The Record. “We have a district work plan regarding the maintenance. We will continue with the work.” MoDOT has scheduled to resurface westbound I-70 from the St. Charles County line to Warrenton this year. In addition, just over four miles of the South Service Road will be resurfaced from Route B to Warrenton and the North Service Road will be resurfaced from Route F at High Hill to Route A. Chip sealing also will be performed on Route OO from Route M to the St. Charles County line. Routes AA and MM are also slated for resurfacing before the end of the year, weather permitting. Currently, contractors are working on the Tuque Creek bridge replacement project, expected to cost around $1 million. The bridge is located a mile south of Marthasville on Highway 47. The road closure is forcing motorists to detour through Marthasville on Highway D and use Boone Monument Road to reach Washington and other areas in the southern portion of the county. Tractor-trailers are being encouraged to travel alternate routes. As of Friday, 15 percent of the project had been completed. The new bridge is expected to be built and the highway reopened by July 31. “They’ve been aggressive,” Fackler said about the ongoing project. “Hopefully the big trucks are taking different directions.” In addition, The Charrette Creek bridge near Marthasville, which was replaced last year, will be painted this summer. The Lake Creek bridge, located just south of the Highway 47 and 94 intersection near Dutzow, also remains on schedule to be replaced in 2012. Under MoDOT’s proposed plan Warren County will shift to the St. Louis District, which will be comprised of Lincoln, Franklin, St. Charles, St. Louis and Jefferson counties and St. Louis city. Warren County currently is part of the 13-county Northeast District, with the district office in Hannibal. Under the new plan, the Northeast District will add eight counties to the west. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission is expected to act on Keith’s proposals at its June 8 meeting.