Seeing the pressing need for improvements to roads servicing the industrial park, the Poplar Bluff City Council voted to apply for $1.8 million in funds from the Delta Regional Authority Monday.
In a report to the city by Smith and Co. Engineers, Butzen Drive and Harlo Dunn Road were identified as needing complete replacement. For Harlo Dunn Road, a section has already been broken up and replaced with gravel as temporary pavement.
The industrial park provides 20% of the jobs inside city limits, according to the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission. The city would need to match $200,000 from its own budget if the project moves forward.
The report proposed three courses of action in various combinations of repairing or replacing the affected sections of road. Smith and Co. recommended completely replacing both roads and the intersection pavement at Rowe Parkway and Butzen Drive.
With this option, “The Poplar Bluff Street Department will have little to no maintenance for the proposed road pavement for the first 10 years.”
The report stated the proposed repair will have a twofold effect of remediating immediate damage and providing a long-term transportation solution.
If the DRA approves the funds, the OFRPC estimates the project could be completed by 2026. Their application to the DRA quoted business leaders concerned about the impact of the poor-quality roads.
“The jarring caused by conditions of the road is a safety concern for the employees operating our trucks,” George Sherrill of Nortek stated, “Repairs to Butzen Drive would have a significant positive impact for Nortek from a safety, production, and financial standpoint.”
“We have approximately 40 trucks a day using Butzen Drive and several hundred over a month’s time,” Brad Massey of Briggs and Stratton explained. “The importance of efficient and well-maintained infrastructure in the industrial park is crucial to the success of our operation.”
This sentiment was echoed by Roderic Terrell, Human Resources Manager for Gates.
The OFRPC application stated the repairs could make future development in the park more attractive to potential manufacturers.
“The City of Poplar Bluff has an obligation to repair and restore these roads to better sustain local industry,” the Smith and Co. report asserted.