MoDOT says most of major Missouri roads in good shape

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Motorists should have smooth traveling on the vast majority of Missouri's major roads.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said Tuesday that 83 percent of the state's major highways now are in good condition. That's up from 47 percent in 2004.

The department defines major roads as insterstates and the most heavily traveled U.S. routes, such as highways 50, 60, 63 and 71.

The 5,573 miles of major roads carry 80 percent of Missouri's traffic, and 95 percent of Missourians live within 10 miles of one of the roads.

Many of the major roads were repaved as a result of a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 2004. The measure authorized bonds backed by the redirection of more existing state tax revenue to roads.