MoDOT addresses construction, traffic ahead of busy holiday travel weekend
Alison Patton
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Transportation addressed construction and traffic Thursday ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, as lawmakers consider suspending the gas tax — a crucial funding source for Missouri roads.
About 39.1 million travelers will hit the road between Thursday and Monday, which is a 0.1% increase nationally, according to AAA.
MoDOT and MSHP leaders urged caution in work zones over the weekend and said speeds won’t be reduced in work zones that don’t have barriers and lane shifts in place.
MoDOT’s Highway Safety & Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson said the goal is to have zero fatal crashes over the weekend.
“Summer is often a time where we unfortunately see an increased number in traffic incidents, fatalities and injuries. We would like for nothing more than for the summer of 2026 to have a different outcome,” Nelson said.
To do that, drivers are encouraged to slow down, put the phone down, driver sober and buckle up.
“Putting this all together we’re simply asking that everyone makes safe decisions that protect themselves, their passengers and everyone else on the roadways,” Nelson said.
Chief safety and operations director Becky Allmeroth said 24 people were killed and over 110 people were injured last year in work zones. There will be over 1,000 work zones this year.
“No matter where you travel this weekend, you should expect to encounter roadwork,” Allmeroth said. “We need drivers to slow down, stay alert and help protect our crews and each other.”
Safety isn’t the only thing on drivers’ minds this summer.
Gas prices in Missouri are over $1.30 more expensive now compared to last year, when the state average was $2.87, according to AAA. About 800,000 Missourians are packing the car this weekend, down 0.1% statewide compared to last year.
State Rep. Tricia Byrnes (R-Wentzville) has offered a potential solution to temporarily lower gas prices –temporarily suspending the gas tax.
“Missouri families are paying more than $1.30 extra on every gallon compared to this time last year. The legislature raised this tax without a public vote in 2021. We can pause it without a public vote. I’m drafting a bill and I’m asking Governor Kehoe to call us back to Jefferson City to pass it,” Byrnes said in a news release.
The tax takes over 29 cents per gallon at the pump, and more than 21 cents goes to MoDOT. The department receives $2.2 billion a year in total from its user fee, which includes the fuel tax, registration and licensing fees and motor vehicle sales taxes. The gas tax brings in the highest amount of revenue from the user fee.
“The Missouri Department of Transportation is aware of the discussions taking place among lawmakers regarding the motor fuel tax, which funds transportation work in our state. At this time, it would be premature for the department to comment or speculate on potential legislative actions or their impacts,” MoDOT spokesperson Jacob Luecke said via email.
MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger reiterated that sentiment at the press conference.
“We’re aware of the efforts, but until we know what that really looks like, it’s pretty premature to comment on that,” Hassinger said.
Byrnes sent Gov. Mike Kehoe a letter Tuesday, asking him to call a special session to move forward with suspending the gas tax.