County Projects Included In High-Priority Needs

Seven Crawford County road projects were included in the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) high-priority unfunded Tier 3 needs list and Regional Bridge Program.

The list was voted on Aug. 11 by the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC).

TAC prioritized the top 10 road and bridge and 15 multi-modal projects to assist the Missouri Department of Transportation in planning for future projects.

Tier 3 High-Priority Unfunded Needs are those that would be 10 to 20 years out from construction, should funding be available and the need still exist, according to Bonnie Prigge, MRPC executive director.

Crawford County projects in the 10 road and bridge projects were converting the overpass at Highway FF and Interstate 44 into an interchange for economic development and safety and adding a left turn lane on Highway 19 at Lindburg Road.

Included in the multi-modal projects, which includes rail, trail, sidewalks, airports, public transit and ports were improving ADA compliance and pedestrian safety along Highway 19 in Steelville and adding pedestrian and bicyclist opportunities along Old Highway 66.

Three bridges were submitted to MoDOT for consideration, including Benton Creek Road over Benton Creek; Little Shoal Creek Road over Shoal Creek and High Point Road over Brush Creek.

All of the bridges submitted for consideration are on the local road system (city or county) and are in poor condition. Previously, counties were allocated funds for BRO bridges, and it usually took three to four years for a county to accumulate enough dollars and the 20 percent match to replace a bridge. Now the money is pooled at the MoDOT district level. MoDOT accepted applications for the top three bridges, by county, with the counties or city making the decision. All submitted applications from Meramec Region cities and counties were reviewed and ranked by the TAC.