By Gary J. Groman a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
In the final analysis, the inconvenience to local residents and users of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge across Lake Taneycomo between Hollister and Branson will be directly related to the funding available to correct the bridges deteriorating deck and traffic congestion at its eastern end. The bridges deck and traffic problems are the subjects of an ongoing Value Engineering Study currently being conducted by the Missouri Department of Transportation, MoDOT, in conjunction with local officials. The study team recently met in the MoDOT District 8 offices in Springfield, Sep. 10 through 13 and gave a status report on Sep. 13.
The team consists of engineers and other professionals from MoDOT, private industry, Branson, Hollister, and Taney County. Local members of the team are Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister City Administrator, Matt Filice, engineer with the city of Branson and Frank Preston, engineer with Taney County. Although the study is still a work in progress and additional traffic modeling and cost estimate adjustments for some of the recommendations must be accomplished prior to submitting its final recommendations to MoDOT management, the proposed recommendations in the study are identifiable.
The recommendations are in two general phases, one relating to a constrained budget and the other for an unconstrained budget. The recommendations in the report for the constrained base line approach used the figure of approximately $5.5 million dollars which is the amount currently available for the project.
This approach would involve the rehabilitation of the bridge, with a widening of its lanes and a roundabout at its east end. Traffic analysis of the traffic congestion caused by the Highway 76 traffic to the east of the bridge indicates that a signalized intersection at the bridges east end does not permit the Levels of Service, LOS, adequate to handle the traffic. Currently the intersection has an LOS of F, the lowest LOS possible. The proposed roundabout, redesigned from the roundabout originally proposed, performs at an LOS of C, will handle traffic volumes approximating the 20 year projection and will be flexible enough to provide for future expansion.
The bridge rehabilitation under the base line approach would require that the bridge be closed. Although there was no definite commitment by the study team as to specifically how long it would be closed, indications are that the bridge would be closed for approximately a year. During that time, those wishing to enter Branson from the eastern side of Lake Taneycomo via Highway 76 would have to detour approximately 6.5 miles through Hollister via the Highway 65 interchange and travel north back to Branson.
The unconstrained budget approach offered proposed solutions ranging in cost from $13.29 million to $36.85 million. All involved the building of at least one new bridge and would virtually eliminate the need to close the existing bridge for an extended period of time.
All the unrestrained recommendations, with a cost under $29 million dollars, were in the range of $13.3 to $16.2 million. The one discussed the most during the presentation was option B10. It would cost $15.6 million, involve the rehabilitation of the current bridge and the building of a new two lane bridge that would connect with Branson Landing Boulevard. Under this option, both bridges would have two way traffic, pedestrians would have to use the new bridge, and those coming into Branson from the Hollister side would have a choice of coming in on Highway 76, much as is currently being done or going down to Branson Landing Boulevard.
Chad E. Zickefoose, MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager said, “The purpose of the study is to come up with a financially prudent recommendation for solving the problem.” He went on to point out as part of arriving at a solution the study team has provided different alternative recommendations for evaluation and consideration. Zickefoose also stated that, as is the case with all of their projects, MoDOT will work with the local communities involved in trying to resolve not only the financial issues but other areas of the project which could impact on the communities involved.
