The Missouri Department of Transportation has a new road map.

The 1997-88 official state highway map is available free of charge, said Keith Hassler, mapping and drafting supervisor in the department's Jefferson City General Services Division. "We've made a lot of improvements to the map, and we hope our customers find the map useful," Hassler said.

Maps are available at no charge by calling the department's customer service centers at 888-ASK-MODOT (888-257-6636). Maps may also be picked up at the department's district offices in St. Joseph, Macon, Hannibal, Kansas City, Jefferson City, Chesterfield, Joplin, Springfield, Willow Springs and Sikeston.

Maps may also be requested through the department's internet site at http://www.modot.state.mo.us. or by writing State Maps, Missouri Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City.

About 3.5 million copies of the map, which is issued every two years, have been printed at a cost of 14 cents each. Hassler said 1 million of the maps are being provided to the Division of Tourism of Missouri promotional packages.

Map features include an expanded informational box listing general information phone numbers. Listed are phone numbers for the departments of Transportation, Conservation, Natural Resources, the Division of Tourism and Amtrak. Also shown are the toll-free road conditions number, other agency numbers, phone numbers for the hearing impaired and MoDOT's internet address.