I-44 floods due to littering; Trash causes crash

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KOAM) — MoDOT suspended their Adopt A Highway program in May of 2023 and set in place a review of the program. Now a year later the decision has been made to end the 37 year old program that began in 1987.

Some reasons officials stated for ending Adopt A Highway include: the required 4X a year clean-up was not being done. Most barely performed one clean-up. Trash clean-up in years past was fast food wrappers, discarded dirty magazines and tossed cans. Now they cite safety concerns faster-moving traffic where loaded guns and dead bodies are found. And the undeniable stats revealed costs vs benefits, the program was losing money. It was not working.

WHAT WILL REPLACE ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY

MoDOT states online a Volunteer clean-up program has “replaced the Adopt-A-Highway Program, which will be phased out as adopters’ three-year agreements expire through 2026.” As they expire the signs will come down and given to families and organizations.

Volunteer groups may sign up and perform one-time litter clean up events that are coordinated through MoDOT’s district offices.

This new volunteer clean-up called Keep Missouri Beautiful does not place a sign along the road.

However MoDOT officials are testing a Sponsor-A-Highway program where businesses pay a monthly fee and a contracted company clears trash regularly. Those monthly sponsor fees range from $500 to $1,500.

It appears that program is only testing in areas of Kansas City and St Louis.

FRIDAY NIGHT I-44 FLOODED DUE TO TRASH CAUSING CRASH

The Doolittle Fire Dept released images of I-44 flash flooding after a sudden deluge of rain. The interstate was closed for a time as a crash occurred due to the high water.

They share images of a firefighter working to clear a storm drain clogged with trash.

“ Holy smokes that was some heavy rain! While assisting with flooding at the 181 westbound, crews observed a motor vehicle crash occur due to the flooding. Fortunately there were no injuries. ”

The high water was due to trash clogging a storm drain in the median of the interstate.

“Look at the amount of trash that people have thrown out over who knows how long.

The large amount of trash was enough to clog a large drain which caused water to completely cover both westbound lanes of I-44. The water was close to 4 feet deep right above the drain.

As a result, somebody lost control of their vehicle and was nearly crushed by a tractor trailer after hitting ankle deep water.” — DRFPD

Doolittle Rural Fire cover a section of I-44 in their fire jurisdiction near Newburg, Mo. They say trash and garbage, “ It’s like this across the entire state. ”

It’s unknown if the Adopt-A-Highway program cover(ed) this section of I-44 where this drain is located. Regardless that program is ending.