The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday in the Tinnin Center at Three Rivers Campus. After moving through the agenda items Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, announced his resignation.
“It was a little surprising,” noted Bill Robison, chairman of the Highway 67 Corporation. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“It’s been a blessing for me to be a part of this, and it’s also a good time to recognize when it’s time to move on, and that’s what I’ll be doing,” McKenna said.
Robison remarked McKenna’s input was vital to the regional expansion of Highway 67. “He’s a very intelligent man and he really understands finance and transportation funding. He’s really good at maximizing the full extent of a dollar, and his involvement was very important in the Highway 67 expansion project.”
Robison had spoken to the commission earlier in the meeting, following presentations by Poplar Bluff City Manager Matt Winters and Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Alan Lutes. The three men gave brief presentations regarding the growth of Poplar Bluff in recent years.
For his part, Robison informed the commission funding has been secured to upgrade for the final stretch of the future I-57. Highway 67 will be upgraded to interstate standards from Highway 160 to the Arkansas state line. Following the meeting, Robison explained MoDOT will be able to receive bids in September and approve them in October.
“That will be for the next phase in this project,” Robison noted. “There are multiple phases. It’s not something that will be done really quickly. But, weather permitting, work could start in November.”
Robison clarified that the next phase is getting Highway 67 expanded from Highway 160 to Highway 352.
“I’ve been very happy to be a part of this process and to see how far everything has come,” Robison said in an interview after the meeting. “This is a project that will save lives and help our local economy.
“I think one of the main keys to the success of this project is that local, state and federal government agencies have been able to work together really well and share their part of the cost.”
He is excited to see the project move another step closer to completion, but he noted McKenna will be missed.
“He brought a lot into MoDOT,” Robison said. “I know that MoDOT thrived with him and saw a lot of improvements. But, like he said, everything is going really well right now and it’s just the time he feels he needs to leave.”