(KFVS) - The Missouri State Highway Patrol is warning drivers to be more cautious this time of year for deer on the roadways.

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, says deer are more active this time of year and drivers should be especially careful during evening and early dawn hours.

Deer behavior changes due to mating season, which may cause an increase in roadway crossings. Hunting and crop harvesting may result in these animals being in places that aren't usual for them.

Last year, drivers in Missouri experienced 3,563 wrecks involving deer. Because of those crashes, four people were killed and 367 were injured. 26.7 percent of the crashes involving deer happened in urban areas.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - The Missouri General Assembly, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and 16 other chambers of commerce from the Southeast Missouri area are hosting a two-day joint interim committee meeting on transportation needs.

They are addressing past and current ideas and giving their opinions on if it's the best way to bring in more money, projects they feel will or will not benefit people or companies with transportation needs, and other ideas such as toll roads and tax proposals.

Exhibit Booths will be open for discussion and allow transportation organizations to show and discuss ways of their operations and get exposure with companies who want or already do business with them.

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, MO (KFVS) - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded two contracts for Southeast District projects during its regular meeting on September 12.

Awarded contracts included a pavement project in Bollinger County and bicycle and pedestrian improvements in Cape Girardeau County. Contracts include the following:

• A $3,253,385 contract was awarded to Magruder Paving, LLC., Troy, Mo., to resurface and add shoulders to 17 miles of Route 51 from Route 72 to Route 34 near Marble Hill, Mo.
• A $1,091,592 contract was awarded to RL Persons Construction Inc., Poplar Bluff, Mo., to complete four miles of bicycle and pedestrian improvements on Route 74 along Shawnee Parkway and on Route K in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Additional information, regarding timelines and impacts to traffic, will be released prior to the start of construction.