Highway 67 south could see construction start in mid 2021

A vote Wednesday by Poplar Bluff City Council members was critical for construction timelines and possible federal funding for Highway 67 south work, according to officials.

Council members held a special meeting to select a firm to complete an environmental review, voting 6-0 for Wood Environmental & Infrastructure Solutions of Ballwin, Missouri. Council member Ron Black was absent.

The review will update a document used 15 years ago by federal officials to establish a preferred alignment for the four lane project, said Bill Robison, of the Highway 67 Corporation.

“In order to keep on the critical path, we need to get this environmental study done as soon as we can,” said Robison, adding later, “I would hope to start construction in mid to late 2021. That would be pretty aggressive and MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) will be involved in that decision.”

Officials expect the Highway 67 south project to be completed in four phases. It will make 12 miles of road between Poplar Bluff and the Arkansas state border four lane, upgraded to interstate standards.

The review is needed to maintain construction timelines for the first four miles of four lane. Approximately $15 million in state grants and Missouri Department of Transportation money has already been announced for these sections. The remaining approximately $14.5 million to fund this stretch will come from a Poplar Bluff city sales tax.

City officials also expect to apply in April for federal funding to complete the following six miles of four lane. That portion is estimated to cost $30 million to $35 million, said Robison, who explained the figures given are for planning purposes only and have not been finalized. The maximum federal funding available for this part of the project is $25 million, he said.

“One of the boxes on those grants is environmental. I feel strongly that if we can check that box as we submit our application, we would be in a better position than a lot of folks,” Robison said.

Estimates have not been completed for the final two miles of four lane.

Wood Environmental will complete the environmental review along the preferred alignment route. It will then need to be approved by the federal highway department. The area to be studied will go from approximately the Highway 160 and Highway 67 juncture, to two miles north of the Arkansas border.

The Highway 67 Corporation recommended Wood because it is the same company that completed the first document, Robison said. That document was originally approved by the federal highway department for the preferred alignment.

Proposals to complete the environmental review were received from: Horner & Shifrin of Poplar Bluff; SCI Engineering, Inc, of St. Charles; and Wiley Robb & Associates of St. Louis. Information concerning the proposals made by each company was not available at press time.

The environmental study will help with the design of the first two phases.

Phase I would include the first two miles of four lane from the Highway 160 junction. Estimates are (approximate) a total cost of $15.3 million, provided by: Poplar Bluff, $7.56 million; MoDOT Southeast District, $1.97 million; Governor’s cost share grant (previously announced), $5.71 million.

Phase II would include the next two mile section. Estimates are (approximate) a total cost of $13.74 million, provided by: Poplar Bluff, $6.97 million; MoDOT Southeast District, $1.78; MoDOT cost share (previously announced), $5.19 million.

Phase III would include the next six miles. Project cost estimates are $30 million to $35 million. The maximum federal funding would be $25 million.

A 12-mile section of Highway 67 south is planned for upgrades, in four phases.Graphic provided