A state highway damaged by a record crest at Clearwater Dam could reopen by the end of the year, weather permitting.
A consultant has finalized designs for Highway HH repairs, which are expected to cost approximately $750,000, said Missouri Department of Transportation area engineer David Wyman.
MoDOT hopes to have the project put out to bid by August and awarded in September, he said. Construction could take between three and four months, weather permitting.
A large section of the highway west of the dam was torn away by water crossing the overflow spillway in early May. It was the first time in the lake's history that the overflow spillway was activated.
The flow of water gouged out a mile-long canyon, as much as 45 feet deep in some sections. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said this area will not be filled in.
The new section of road will be similar to a repair completed last week at Wappapello Lake, according to Wyman. Damage was done to Highway T following activation of Wappapello's auxiliary spillway.
That repair included a raised roadbed with culverts to allow for some drainage.
The Clearwater road will not have as many culverts, Wyman said.
Both roads are subject to closures, should the secondary spillways be activated again the future, he said.