Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Sunday, May 18, 2003

ST. LOUIS, MO - Senator Kit Bond today visited the Fenton, I-44 Industrial Corridor Transportation Improvement Project. Bond was joined by a number of the I-44 project's important partners, including Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock, MoDOT Director Henry Hungerbeeler, Ed Hassinger, MoDOT District Engineer St. Louis Metropolitan Region, Tom Blair, MoDOT Area Engineer and representatives of I-44 corridor companies.

"The Fenton, I-44 project will provide not only traffic relief, but also stimulate economic development and provide safer travel for area drivers," said Bond. "Investing in our roadways and bridges is more than an investment in concrete and steel, it is an investment in our economic future."

“Improvements to the I-44 corridor have been one of my priorities and are key to economic development in the area,” said Congressman Todd Akin. “This highway corridor is home to major national corporations which employ over 10,000 people.”

“Senator Bond’s work in securing funding has helped in bringing this important project closer to fruition,” stated Akin. “This is a great first step in upgrading traffic flow, reducing congestion and increasing safety along the corridor.”

Bond, who is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, along with Congressman Todd Akin, has secured funding to help Fenton with improvements along I-44. The redesign and reconstruction of the interchange and circulation road facilities will mitigate area accident rates – which are currently much higher than the national average. These improvements will include ramp improvements and additional enhancements primarily directed at increasing access and decreasing congestion.

Bond has been a longtime champion for Missouri’s transportation needs. During the debate on the 1998 highway bill, Bond won an increase in Missouri’s share of the federal highway pot as he had done in the previous authorization bill. The most recent bill contains an average of $620 million per year for six years for Missouri, a 53 percent increase over the previous transportation bill. Missouri’s rate of return for the Highway Trust Fund jumped from about 86 cents on the dollar to more than 92 cents on the dollar. In addition, Senator Bond authored the Highway Trust Fund funding guarantee, which ensures that dollars collected from motorists through gas taxes are spent on highway improvements.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.