Members of the Shoulders fOr Safety (SOS) group joined MoDOT personnel, political representatives, school officials, and the general public on Friday, December 9, 2011 for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of shoulder projects on Routes 94, D and DD.
Approximately 40 people, including representative from the three major St. Louis TV news stations, attended the event which was held at the parking lot for Lake 16 along Hwy. D in the Busch Wildlife area. The parking lot was overflowing.
Ed Hassinger, St. Louis District Engineer for MoDOT said in his opening remarks said he was thrilled with the turnout. “This wouldn’t have happened without the partnership of many people working towards a common goal: the SOS group, which raised awareness and worked very hard with local officials to bring it to MoDOT’s attention, St. Charles County and their monetary contribution, MoDOT’s High Risk Rural Roads program, and [the SOS group] working hard on contractors to donate some of material. As a result we are here today celebrating this major milestone of completed projects.”
Hassinger introduced Grace Nichols, Chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, a bipartisan commission that acts as MoDOT’s Board of Directors. Nichols said, “This all started with a group of dedicated people – SOS – who cared a lot about what had happened not only for their own relatives that they lost, but for all the citizens of St. Charles County. They just didn’t give up! That’s how this partnership really started.” Nichols commended St. Charles County for contributing $400,000 to the effort, “which is a huge amount of money,” she said, but she focused most of her remarks on SOS. Nochols said, “One of the things that struck me about SOS was that they were always polite, courteous and knowledgeable. They had their facts in a row and were just an example of how things can be made to happen in government if you do it the right way. They did everything right as far as I’m concerned, and that’s why we’re here today.”
Randy Frump spoke on behalf of the SOS group. He started by thanking Grace Nichols for her remarks. “We are so thankful for those comments,” he said. Then Frump was interrupted by the loud screeching of tires as someone was nearly rear-ended while trying to enter the parking lot! Complete silence fell across the crowd for a several bone-chilling seconds, followed by a collective sigh that a collision was avoided.
Then Frump started again, “I’d like begin by acknowledging my son, Bryan Frump [who died on Hwy. D January 1, 2009] and Shannon [Follwell’s] daughter, Brianna Carron, [who died on Hwy. D on March 1, 2009] who provided special inspiration and motivation for the SOS group to organize and lead the effort to improve the safety of these roads. In their loving memory, and with hopes of avoiding more heartbreak over more loved ones lost, we were able to maintain focus and persevere over the past two years. The SOS team is a special group of people – an extremely resourceful and compassionate group of dedicated volunteers who brought to the public and government’s attention the terribly unsafe condition of these roads. Sadly, these roads were responsible for 11 fatalities within a 14 month period beginning in 2009.”
Frump continued, “As part of SOS, we took our story to the local community, to the County Council, to the County Executive, to our state senators and representatives and other elected officials in Jefferson City, to MoDOT engineers and management, and to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. We pretty much took our story to anyone who would listen; and listen they did. Once we managed to tell our story to the right folks, the tragic statistics provided all the motivation needed to drive key people to find a way to make it happen, and make it happen quickly. So on behalf of SOS I want to say how proud and gratified we are to have played a role in helping to make this happen.”
Frump added, “Further, SOS would genuinely like to thank all of those people who have helped to make these safety improvements a reality. There’s no doubt that these projects were money well spent. We all know that these improvements will save lives and reduce the number of injuries on these roads.”
On a personal note, Frump said, “As my role in SOS now comes full circle, I can’t begin to tell you what a personal joy this brings. Being able to personalize my heartbreaking story for SOS has helped me immensely in dealing with my sorrow and grief over Bryan’s loss. It means so much to me to find within the sadness of Bryan’s death, such a beneficial outcome as this—an outcome that will no doubt spare other parents the unthinkable.”
Others who spoke at the ceremony included Brendan Fahey, representing U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill; Holly Warden, representing U.S. Senator Todd Akin; and Dan Engemann, representing Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer. All offered their congratulations on the completion of the safety improvements and appreciation for the work done by those involved. Engemann added, “We know it won’t bring loved ones back, but we certainly hope [these safety improvements] will prevent future accidents. From someone who’s been through that personally, I can’t commend you enough for what you’ve done here, so congratulations; and we look forward to working with you more in the future.”
Bruce Holt, speaking for Missouri Senator Scott Rupp who could not attend, said Senator Rupp sent a thank you from the bottom of his heart to the SOS group. “Without you this would not have happened.” Holt also thanked St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and MoDOT representatives. Holt said, “Even though there may be emptiness in a room, there are hearts full of love here. Because of what you’ve done and the sacrifices you’ve made, these improvements will make this a safer place for everyone in St. Charles County and all who drive through here.”
In closing, Ed Hassinger thanked the project contractors, Pace Construction and MacGruder Construction for doing a great job, Fred Weber, Inc. for their significant donation of materials, and the Francis Howell and Wentzville School Districts for their cooperation during the construction phases. Hassinger also thanked MoDOT employees: Jim Gremaud, former St. Charles County Area Engineer and his replacement, Tom Evers; and MoDOT Designer/Project Manager Barry Bergmann (who has since retired) for their work on the projects.
Members of the SOS group and others in attendance then gathered behind the ribbon which was cut by SOS members Randy Frump and Shannon Follwell.
A sign posted at the site on behalf of the SOS group read:
“SOS is proud to have organized and led the effort to put shoulders on these roads. We sincerely thank the following for their important contributions:
Steve Ehlmann – St. Charles County Executive
Jim Gremaud / Ed Hassinger – MoDOT
Senator Scott Rupp / Representative Scott Dieckhaus
Grace Nichols – MO Highways & Transportation Commission
Joe Brazil – St. Charles County Council
Doug Weible – Fred Weber, Inc.
In honor of the precious lives lost on these roads, we pay tribute for the inspiration and passion which stirred this community.
These shoulders are built in loving memory of those lost…”
The total cost to complete the approximately 23 miles of shoulder improvement projects in St. Charles County was estimated at $6.2 million, but came in under budget with bids at $5.58 million. The projects added 2-3 feet of widening/shoulders, rumble strips, resurfacing and other safety improvements to each of the affected routes.
A cost share agreement between MoDOT and St. Charles County helped fund the work on Routes 94, D and DD, with $400,000 contributed by the county. (Note: Materials donated by Fred Weber, Inc. are included as part of that $400,000 county match.) $1.6 million came from the High Risk Rural Roads Fund and $2.8 million from MoDOT and Federal funds. Shoulders for Safety was instrumental in getting funding earmarked for these projects.
In addition, shoulders were also added to Route P between Highway 61 near Flint Hill and Hoff Road near St. Paul, Missouri. For that project, $762,000 came from the High Risk Rural Roads fund and $560,000 from MoDOT and federal funds.
Other projects currently funded in this area: resurfacing (without shoulder improvements) to Hwy. F in 2012; and the addition of shoulders and resurfacing of Route Z from I-70 to Route D in the spring/summer of 2013.
SOS would like to see shoulders added to all 2-lane state roads in southwestern St. Charles County. They have identified the next priority as getting the remainder of Route DD done, from Route D south to 94, where four of the fatalities in 2009 took place. SOS would also like to see shoulders added to Route F and to Route D west of New Melle. The challenge to getting any of these remaining projects completed is finding funding and cost sharing partners. Anyone interested in helping SOS achieve those goals is encouraged to email the group at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
