Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES — The expansion of Highways 63 and 50 to four-lane corridors remain the number one and two regional transportation priorities, respectively, the Meramec Region’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) confirmed at its Dec. 8 meeting. The proposed projects on Highway 63 and Highway 50 have topped the regional priority list for several years.

Once the top regional projects were determined, TAC members from each county shared the top three or four additional transportation needs from their counties. Each TAC member selected high, medium and low priorities from a list of 31 projects. Those selections were tabulated and weighted to determine a prioritized list of needs for the region. 

The TAC’s priorities for the upcoming year are as follows, in order of priority:

Top Regional Priorities 

1. Four-laning of US 63 from US 50 in Osage County to the Phelps/Texas County line;
2. Four-laning of US 50 from about one mile west of Linn to the Gasconade/Franklin line;

High Priority

• Address flooding concerns of bridge over Crooked Creek in Dent County;
• Improve safety at Hwy. V interchange in Phelps County;
• Add southbound turn lanes on US 63 to Hwy. 28 near Vichy 
• Address safety improvements to intersection of Rte. E and 63 in Osage County;
• Address flooding and safety concerns of Tavern Creek Bridge on Rte. U in Pulaski County;
• Address flooding concerns on Rte. 89 near Gasconade River in Osage County;
• Convert overpass to interchange at the junction of Rte. FF and I-44 in Crawford County;
• Accommodate turning movements and extend lanes past Kwan Plaza on Rte. 8 in Washington County;
• Address safety concerns on bridge over West Fork of the Huzzah on MO 32 in Dent County;
• Improve safety at the intersection of MO 100 and Rte. J west of Hermann in Gasconade County;

Medium Priority

• Improve intersection of Rte. 28 and I-44 in Pulaski County;
• Install left turn lane on Hwy. 19 at Lindburg Road in Crawford County;
• Address safety concerns on bridge over Roubidoux on Rte. H in Pulaski County;
• Improve safety at the Y intersection of Hwy. 63 and Hwy. 28 south of Vienna in Maries County;
• Improve interchange including pedestrian crossings and add passing lanes south of Freeburg on US 63 in Osage County;
• Improve safety to bridge over Cherry Valley Branch on Hwy. 19 in Crawford County;
• Improve safety at the Y intersection and T intersection of Hwy. 422 and 133 in Maries County;
• Add sidewalks and/or bike paths along North Outer Road of I-44 and Hwy. 28 and along Hwy. 17 through Waynesville in Pulaski County;
• Improve safety and traffic control on Hwy. 68 between I-44 off ramp and Rte. B in Phelps County;

Low Priority

• Add northbound turn lane on Rte. 21 at Purcell Drive in Washington County;
• Lengthen south bound acceleration lane at Hwy. A and US 63 in Maries County;
• Improve corridor from CR 604 west of Linn to Rte. 89 in Osage County; 
• Add sidewalks to connect school to downtown and new library along Hwy. H, Hwy. 19 and Hwy. 100 in Gasconade County; 
• Address connectivity need from Rte. 8 to Hwy. 67 in Washington County;
• Address should and alignment need on Rte. B before CR 539 in Dent County;
• Address safety concerns at school entrances and industrial park entrance from Hwy. 28 to North City Limits on Hwy. 19 in Gasconade County;
• Improve intersection of Rte. 185 and Lick Skillet Road in Washington County;
• Address safety concerns at intersection of Hwy. 19 and Roosevelt Street in Dent County;
• Add Shoulders along Hwy.28 in Maries County; and
• Address safety and traffic control needs from south of the Hwy. 68 interchange to Hwy. DD in Phelps County. 

The TAC approved the priority list and later that evening recommended the prioritized list to the board of Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC). MRPC also approved the list. MRPC will now share the list with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Central District office for consideration of inclusion in MoDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is a five-year rolling plan for design and construction projects, which means new projects are added each year. 

The priority list is an annual planning exercise for the TAC. The TAC revisits its priority list annually to provide MoDOT with an updated needs list as it considers projects for the STIP.

Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. For more information on Transportation needs in the region or other programs offered by MRPC, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion or visit www.meramecregion.org. 

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Steve Vogt, representing the city of Belle, serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 33 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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