JEFFERSON CITY - Replacing low-water stream crossings with structures that allow passage of aquatic life and reducing staff time and mileage on inspecting outdoor advertising permits have earned the Missouri Department of Transportation two national awards.

The Federal Highway Administration recognized MoDOT's efforts to replace several low-water stream crossings as an Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative.  Low-water crossings, typically built over streams to provide a bridge when water is low, can hinder stream functions and flow, thus adversely impacting aquatic life.  MoDOT replaced the crossings with structures that are open at the bottom and allow aquatic life to pass up and downstream. These replacements should benefit the threatened Niangua darter, an endangered fish in Missouri.

The National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies recently gave MoDOT its Award of Excellence for Innovations in Outdoor Advertising for changing the way the agency inspected outdoor advertising permit renewals.  Instead of renewing and inspecting the permits every two years based on the original permit date, MoDOT assigned each county a month and an even or odd year for inspections.  The change has saved the department $140,000 in annual staff salaries, decreased vehicle mileage for sign inspections 46 percent and enabled MoDOT to eliminate three vehicles, saving fuel and maintenance costs.

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