Aug. 20, 2007For immediate release
For more information, contact:          
Bonnie Prigge, (573) 265-2993

TRANSPORTATION LEADERS WANT MORE INFORMATION ON HIGHWAY 17 BRIDGE OPTIONS
Discusses region’s Investment Priorities

ST. JAMES TAC—The Meramec Regional Transportation Advisory Committee asked the Missouri Department of Transportation to do more research on total costs of the Highway 17 bridge construction project and associated detour costs before the TAC considers taking a position on whether Highway 17 should be closed during construction of the new bridge between Crocker and Waynesville.

Rob Rakestraw of MoDOT’s District 9 office, asked the TAC to consider making a recommendation to close Highway 17 to through traffic during replacement of the bridge over the Gasconade River. Construction of a new Highway 17 bridge was a top priority of the TAC, and MoDOT is moving forward on the project. Closing Highway 17 would allow for the old bridge to be removed and a new bridge built in its place on the same alignment. This would save  $1.2 million, according to MoDOT estimates, but would require up to a 26-mile detour for those commuting between Crocker and Waynesville. The detour would be in place for up to eight months. The cost of the project on the existing alignment is $2.9, without incentives for early completion.

Leaving the existing bridge open and building a new one next to is estimated to cost $4.1 million because of the additional roadway costs to align the existing Highway 17 with the new structure.

Contractor incentives for early completion could cost as much as $200,000, Rakestraw said, so the actual savings—if the road were closed during construction—may be about $1 million if the project is finished early.

MoDOT estimates about 5,000 vehicles a day use the Highway 17 bridge and about 500 local residents would be impacted. Members of the TAC pointed out that a couple of new subdivisions had been built north of the bridge since the 2000 Census, which was the basis for the population estimate.

St. Robert City Assistant Administrator Chris Heard pointed out that Highway T, the main detour route, is a ridge road and would need significant improvement to accommodate additional traffic, especially truck traffic. He also pointed out that the Highway T intersection with Highway 17 in Waynesville is presently a stop sign, which would hinder traffic flow if usage becomes heavier.

Owensville City Administrator Linda Gast, after doing some quick calculations, said that increased gas costs to the 500 area residents, because of the long detour, would be over $1 million over the course of eight months.

While MoDOT may save $1 million, the cost would be passed on and shifted to local residents, Gast said. She likened it to an unfunded mandate.
Mayor James Morgan of Crocker expressed his concerns, especially in regard to school buses and additional costs to those school districts. “Crocker and Iberia school district are both impacted,” Morgan said.

Rakestraw said MoDOT would do more research, consider and cost out what improvements would need to be made to Highway T and provide more information to the TAC. He thanked the TAC for its input and suggestions. Public meetings are planned in the Pulaski County area in the future.

MoDOT is looking to the future and trying to maximize every available dollar for road improvements, Rakestraw pointed out. This fiscal year, District 9 has $90 million in funding for projects in its 13-county area. In 2009, it will have $28 million and in 2010-2011, it will have less than $5 million in funding under the present funding package.

“MoDOT is doing its due diligence, and they should be commended for that. When you consider that its construction budget in 2010-2011 will be less than $5 million, $1.2 million is very significant,” said Richard Cavender, executive director of Meramec Regional Planning Commission. “If MoDOT single-handedly made the decision to keep the bridge open, they would be criticized for spending an extra $1.2 million. By talking with local leaders and residents—the taxpayers—MoDOT can better assess the true costs and defend whatever decision is made,” Cavender concluded.

Also during the meeting, the TAC further discussed numbered and lettered state routes needing improvements in preparation for the upcoming Statewide Investment Priorities meeting in September. During May and June, TAC members identified and prioritized local needs of statewide significance. The goal is to develop a list of priority projects statewide that could be funded, should additional funding become available.

Priorities in the Meramec Region are, in order of importance: (1)  the four-laning of Highway 63 from Highway 50 to Arkansas; (2) the four-laning of Highway 50 from Cole/Osage county line to Interstate 44; (3) the development of a statewide program for preserving lettered routes with 5 percent of new funding dedicated to the program; (4) the development of a statewide program for adding paved shoulders, four to six feet in width, to numbered routes along with overlay, striping and rumble strips as needed with 10 percent of new funds dedicated to the program; and (5) the maintenance of the state aviation grant program to improve airports.

 In other business, the TAC:

• Welcomed Jessica Vincent-Easler as the newest TAC member. She will represent Crawford County and was appointed by the Crawford County Commission.

• Learned that all four of the Safe Routes to Schools grants, prepared by MRPC staff on behalf of communities, were funded. Those applications were for Crocker, Hermann, Sullivan and Waynesville; and

• Learned that eight of the nine enhancement grants prepared by Meramec Regional Planning Commission staff for member communities were funded. Funded projects include Hermann, Linn, Crocker, Rolla, Potosi-Washington County, Pulaski County, Waynesville and St. Robert.

Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact Connie Willman at MRPC, (573) 265-2993. Meetings are open to the public.

Return to MRPC Welcome Page

Return to MRPC Press Release Archive