Category:644 Weigh Stations, Rest Areas, Welcome/Information Centers and Commuter Parking Lots

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The general locations for rest areas, welcome/information centers, and truck weigh stations are designated by the Maintenance and Traffic Divisions, prior to the development of plans for highway improvements.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol provides input to the Maintenance, and Traffic, Motor Carrier Services or General Services Divisions and General Services regarding new locations for fixed and portable weigh stations as well as fixed and portable weigh stations that need to be replaced or upgraded. Weigh scale facilities are located on Interstate and U.S. Highways Routes to insure commercial motor vehicles comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of the state. Fixed scale locations are selected based on the volume of Commercial Motor Vehicles operating on Interstate or U.S. Routes in a particular area. Portable Scale Turnout locations are selected to handle Commercial Motor Vehicles operating on by-pass routes and within the commercial zones of the larger metropolitan areas. Weigh stations and rest areas on interstate routes are located not less than 1 mile (1.5 km) from interchanges and on all other routes at locations that provide good sight distance for traffic approaching the weigh station or rest area.

The Missouri Division of Tourism provides input to the Maintenance, Traffic, or General Services Divisions regarding new locations for Welcome/Information Centers and rest areas that need to be upgraded to Welcome/Information Center status.

Upon completing preliminary surveys and determining tentative grades, a conceptual plan is reviewed by the district for determining the location of the weigh station, or rest areas, or welcome/information centers with concurrence of the Maintenance, and Traffic and General Services Divisions and General Services.  Fixed and portable Wweigh station locations, and rest area locations, and welcome/information center locations are finalized prior to completing the preliminary plan.  Their locations are indicated on the preliminary plan, and the Maintenance, and Traffic, and General Services Divisions and General Services are furnished with a print of the plan prior to preliminary plan approval.

Commuter Parking Lots are constructed where sufficient usage can be expected and where existing department owned right-of-way is of sufficient area to accommodate a lot. The location for specific commuter parking lots is determined by district personnel with input from the general public. Commuter parking lots are usually built with state forces using construction funds. Commuter lots that have to be relocated due to roadway expansion projects can be included as a part of the overall roadway construction project.

Maintenance Division observes a number of obligations for weigh stations and rest areas.

Design Details. The Maintenance, Traffic and General Services Divisions, the Traffic Division, and General Services and District Design provides the design details for weigh stations, and rest areas, and welcome/information centers.

District Design provides the design details for commuter parking lots.


Plans. Weigh Stations - The plans provide for the complete installation of the weigh stations, or rest areas, or welcome/information centers. The district is responsible for the satisfactory completion of plans to construct the entire facility with oversight and final approval of the plans by Maintenance, Traffic and General Services Divisions. An engineering consultant is to may be selected to perform the following items: geometric layout, grading, drainage, paving quantities including parking areas, and all other roadway items, including all plans and specifications for the scale, scale pits, the weigh station building. The design team for the weigh stations must include representatives of the Highway Patrol Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Unit. Representatives from the Traffic, General Services, Maintenance and Design Divisions are to serve as resources to the team. Federal funds can be provided for all construction items. Separate bid items will be provided for the scale and pit, generally financed from highway planning funds. Non-highway items such as the scale building, vehicle inspection building, heating and cooling units, cabinets and wells are financed from Department funds or Highway Patrol funds. All building plans including wiring, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and sewage, along with their special provisions, are to be reviewed and approved by an architect registered in Missouri. Special provisions and drawings are available from the Traffic and General Services Divisions and are to be requested by the design team for plan preparation on projects involving a weigh station. The special provisions or drawings may be modified when necessary to meet special conditions. Where entrances are specified from outer roadways to weigh stations located on limited access highways, the type of entrance is indicated by including the notation "Gate Entrance - For Official Use of Weigh Station Only" on the plans. These entrances may be located within the limits of the no-right-of-access line; however, the no-right-of-access line is not broken or terminated at the entrance. Other data is listed on the 2B sheet under entrances and approaches.


Rest Areas and/ Welcome/Information Centers - or An engineering/architect consultant may be selected to perform the following items: geometric layout, grading, drainage, paving quantities including parking areas, and all other roadway items, including all plans and specifications for the rest area or welcome/information center and its appurtenances, or all of the design work may be performed by General Services.

 The design team for the weigh station or rest area or welcome/information center must include representatives of the Missouri Division of Tourism, and representatives of the Highway Patrol.  Representatives from the Traffic, General Services, Maintenance (Permit Section) and Design Divisions. are to serve as resources to the team.  Federal funds can be provided for some all construction items.  Separate bid items will be provided for the scale and pit, generally financed from highway planning funds.  Non-highway items such as the building, space heater, air conditioner, cabinets and wells are financed from Operation or Highway Patrol funds.  All building plans including wiring, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and sewage, along with their special provisions, are to be reviewed and approved by an architect registered in Missouri.  Special provisions and drawings are available from the Maintenance, Traffic and General Services Divisions and are to be requested by the design team for plan preparation on projects involving a rest area or welcome/information center weigh station.  The special provisions or drawings may be modified when necessary to meet special conditions.  Where entrances are specified from outer roadways to rest areas or welcome/information centers weigh stations located on limited access highways, the type of entrance is indicated by including the notation "Gate Entrance - For Official Use of Weigh Station Only" on the plans.  These entrances may be located within the limits of the no-right-of-access line; however, the no-right-of-access line is not broken or terminated at the entrance.  Other data is listed on the 2B sheet under entrances and approaches.

Commuter Lots – District Design Team develop the drawings for specific commuter lots and provide the design plans to the district maintenance forces for construction of the commuter lot.

PRIMARY GUIDANCE Maintenance

Weigh stations are constructed by the Department on Commission owned right-of-way and then leased to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Responsibilities for maintenance of specific components of the weigh stations is specified in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Patrol. Rest areas and Welcome/Information Centers are constructed by the Department on Commission owned right-of-way .property. Rest areas and Welcome/Information Centers are located on Interstate Routes. District staff are responsible for maintenance of specific components of the rest areas and welcome/information centers with oversight provided by Central Office Maintenance and General Services Division. Commuter lots are maintained by district forces.