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Sept. 1, 2009 For more information, contact: Transportation Committee to Prioritize Highway 63 Segments ST. JAMES—Should the Missouri Department of Transportation receive funding for the four-laning of Highway 63, what sections should be improved first? That was the question posed to the Meramec Region’s Transportation Advisory Committee during the group’s August meeting. Mike Dusenberg of MoDOT District 5 office told the TAC that the Environmental Improvement Study was awaiting comments from the Federal Highway Administration. The study broke Highway 63 into seven sections with a price tag of $185.2 million for right-of-way acquisition, construction and stream mitigation activities associated with four-laning the 44.5 mile stretch from Highway 50—near the Mari-Osa Delta—to Rolla in Phelps County. Section 1, which includes the city of Westphalia, is five miles in length and costs $23.1 million. There were 89 accidents and no fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 7,706 cars travel this section daily. Section 2, which includes the Osage Route E junction, is seven miles in length with a price tag of $32 million. There were 104 accidents and two fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,025 cars travel this section daily. Section 3, which includes the village of Freeburg, is nine miles in length with a price tag of $45.7 million. There were 130 accidents and three fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 4,260 cars travel this section daily. Section 4, which includes the city of Vienna, is five and one-half miles in length with a price tag of $23.4 million. There were 169 accidents and three fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,001 cars travel this section daily. Section 5, which includes the Gasconade River Bridge south of Vienna to near the Rolla National Airport at Vichy, is eight miles in length with a price tag of $24 million. There were 93 accidents and no fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,814 cars travel this section daily. Section 6, which includes the community of Vichy, is two miles in length with a price tag of $6.3 million. There were 42 accidents and no fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,433 cars travel this section daily. Section 7, which includes the Maries County Highway P junction to just north of Rolla, is eight miles in length with a price tag of $17.7 million. There were 113 accidents and six fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,866 cars travel this section daily. Stream mitigation costs for the total project is estimated at $13 million and is not reflected in the by-section cost estimates. Dusenberg asked the TAC to make recommendations on where the four-lane work should start, if funding was forthcoming. After discussing the issue, the TAC decided to review the information and prioritize the sections at its October meeting. In other business, the TAC:
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