Participants at the delayed March meeting of Partners In Progress held in the Hollister Town Hall on March 27 were informed that the project to four lane U.S. Highway 65 south to the Arkansas boarder (four lane project) is fast nearing completion and that the planning for the design and financing of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge project and roundabout across Lake Taneycomo is moving forward in a positive manner.
Various representatives of Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) attending the meeting reported on the few things remaining on the four lane project. Although the basic construction of the lanes was completed and the south bound lanes opened in late Dec. 2007, one of the north bound lanes has been closed. All that remains for both north bound lanes to be opened is some stripping which is anticipated to be completed during the first week of April, weather permitting.
Although there is some minor median work to be completed and work near some of the intersections where there are signals it is anticipated that any additional lane closing will be localized and temporary and that the total project will be completed well before its contractual completion date on May 27. The signals south of the Hollister intersection are currently timed for a set period of time and are not synchronized with the actual traffic flow. After the north bound lanes are opened, all the signals will be synchronized for the actual traffic using the signals which should result in more efficient traffic flow.
Although Chad E. Zickefoose, MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager was unable to be at the meeting because the change of the meeting date conflicted with previous commitments he did talk with Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister City Administrator earlier on the morning of March 27 about the status of the of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge project and roundabout across Lake Taneycomo. Ziegenfuss reported that based on that conversation Zickefoose is encouraged with the way things are going and feels that the project is right on track and that MoDOT is moving ahead with preliminary drawings and plans for the project. They should be completed within 6 to 8 weeks at which time MoDOT will have a more “accurate scoping and cost” for the project. Ziegenfuss indicated that he felt very positive about the way things are currently going.
Danny Strahan, Eastern Taney County Commissioner, reported on a recent meeting with Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and a representative from Congressman Roy Blunt’s office that took place with the Taney County commissioners, MotDOT officials, and others in Forsyth regarding the bridge and other transportation issues. He said that he was very impressed by their attitude and willingness to help and was very encouraged that there would be some federal assistance available for the project.
Ziegenfuss also pointed out that the Gage Drive extension, to the south just past the police station and coming back to the west to intersect with Historic Highway 165 about a quarter of a mile south of the Acacia Road intersection with Historic Highway 165, is ready for asphalt and should be completed as soon as weather permits. He went on to point out that work on the North Birch extension is currently being done on a time available basis. The contractor on the project Gage Excavation has spent $1.2 million so far and will be reimbursed for that expense and the additional expenses of the project from a CID tax which has been approved for most of the South Town Area and will soon start to be collected. When questioned as to a completion date, Ziegenfuss guessed that it would be in an August time frame.
Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.
