A virtual public hearing was held Tuesday to discuss upgrades for Highway 67 South as part of a project to make four-lane improvements for a future Interstate 57 route.
Comments on the project will be taken until Aug. 24, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Phases 1 and 2 of the project have been fully funded through local, state and federal dollars. The city of Poplar Bluff is in the process of submitting a new federal grant application to fund phase 3 of the project. A fourth phase is also not currently funded.
Work will bring Highway 67 South up to interstate standards from Poplar Bluff to the Arkansas border.
This will not only improve safety, but provide an alternate route for the movement of goods across the Midwest.
“The largest movement of freight within the Midwest, extends from Chicago, Illinois, to Dallas, Texas. Currently, the majority of this freight moves along the I-57, I-55, and I-40 corridors,” MoDOT area engineer David Wyman explained. “When these improvements on future I-57 are completed, it will provide an alternate route that will be available to help move freight throughout the Midwest.”
With any investment of taxpayer dollars, significant benefits should result, Wyman said.
“Improving the safety of the roadway is always the priority for any project. Our interstate highway system handles the highest levels of traffic volume, but also has the lowest accident rates,” he explained. “Because these roadways have very stringent design and access management standards, they are able to handle this high volume of traffic in a manner that results in fewer traffic accidents.”
Part of the work will include improvements to reconfigured the Route 160/158 interchange with two roundabouts in place of the current loop ramps in the northwest and southeast quadrants.
“The third design and the preferred alternative was a diamond interchange with roundabouts at the ramp terminals,” explained Tim Pickett, MoDOT project manager. “The design would not require any changes to the existing bridges on 67. There would be no signals required as traffic volumes increased.
“This design had the lowest crash prediction and the lowest cost. The teardrop shape of the roundabout eliminates the need to yield for the heavy eastbound and northbound movement.”
The preferred alternative has a prediction of reducing overall crashes by 31%, Pickett said.
“This design will remain current and function as traffic volumes increase and the area grows,” he said.
The virtual meeting focused on phases 1A, 1B and 2, according to MoDOT. Phase 1A received funding through Gov. Mike Parson’s cost-share program. Phases 1B and 2 were funded thanks to a cost-share between MoDOT and the City of Poplar Bluff. This was made possible after Poplar Bluff voters approved a ballot measure to help fund the expansion in August 2019.
Officials have said they hope to have the first project, phase 1A, out for bid by late 2021 or early 2022. Both portions of phase 1 construction are expected to be complete by the fall of 2023.
The estimated $15.7-million in work on phases 1A and 1B will take place between Highway 160 and Butler County Road 338.
The city expects to spend about $2.6 million on property acquisition for phases 1A and 1B. Construction is estimated to cost $10.7 million. Another approximately $2.4 million will be spent on engineering and other expenses.
Expenses for the first phase will be split between the city (50%), Missouri Department of Transportation’s Southeast District (13%), and MoDOT (37%). The city’s portion of the cost is paid for through a sales tax.
For more information, contact MoDOT Project Manager Tim Pickett at 573-472-9003, Area Engineer David Wyman at 573-380-2913 or visit www.modot.org/futureI57.