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MoDOT building storage facility for ancient artifacts

A new transportation department storehouse will house some unusual items. Sarah Smithies has more from the State Capitol.

Missouri's transportation department is busy building a new $360,000 climate controlled storehouse.

But the building won't hold asphalt and jackhammers.

It's going to house items like broken arrowheads and animal bones that the department uncovers when building roads.

Bob Reeder of the departmen says they are building the storehouse to comply with a federal regulation that mandates the care of ancient artifacts.

"In order to have access to federal funds, we have to comply with various laws and regulations. Building this curation facility is the best solution we have come up with in order to comply with these federal regulations."

The department has about 2000 boxes of artifacts that it needs to store.

Building is expected to finish in June.

From Jefferson City, I'm Sarah Smithies.

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While the Missouri transportation department is struggling to build better Missouri roads, a federal regulation has them building a storage facility for ancient artifacts.

Sarah Smithies has more from the State capitol.

Since January, the state transportation department has been constructing a new storehouse.

A federal regulation requires the department to preserve ancient artifacts it finds while building roads in order to recieve frederal funding.

So the new climate-controlled building will house almost 2000 boxes of ancient items like broken arrowheads, pottery and even animal bones.

Bob Reeder of the department of transportation says because of the storehouse, the department has recieved a lot of questions about it's commitment to building better roads for Missouri.

"We have tried really hard and looked into all the different alternatives and, and, we have a responsibility that we've got to address, and this seems to be the most frugal and efficient way to deal with it. We are very converned about fixing the state's highways."

Construction on the $360,000 storehouse is set to finish in June.

From Jefferson City, I'm Sarah Smithies.