Although it’s a long way from being a done deal, Branson’s new bridge across Lake Taneycomo took another necessary step forward Sep. 2 with the signing of the “MoDOT Partnership Development Cost Sharing Program Application” (Application). The Application was signed by Taney County and the cities of Branson and Hollister just about an hour before the 4:30 p.m. deadline imposed the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) after its approval by the Taney County Commission.
The Application names the project the “Lake Taneycomo Bridge Improvements and Roundabout” and describes its location as “the intersection of Missouri Route 76 and Missouri Business Route 65 in Hollister and over Lake Taneycomo between Hollister and downtown Branson.” The project will include the construction of a new bridge, the rehabilitation of the current bridge, a roundabout on the eastern end of the bridges servicing both bridges, and will provide virtually continuous access across Lake Taneycomo at the point of the project while construction is taking place.
The genesis for the project was the determination by MoDOT that the current bridge would have to have its deck replaced requiring the closing of the bridge for up to a year and a six mile detour. The subsequent negotiations between MoDOT and the local government entities of Taney County and the cities of Branson and Hollister resulted in a plan to build the new bridge immediately downstream from the current bridge keeping it open while the new bridge was under construction.
Upon completion of the new bridge the current bridge will be closed for repair and rehabilitation. When the project is complete there will be two bridges with both bridges accommodating traffic going in both directions. The current bridge will maintain the current routing directly between Hollister and downtown Branson while the new bridge will connect with Branson Landing Boulevard providing an alternate route for those traveling to Branson Landing, to or from Highway 248, Branson Hills, or points north of Branson.
The Application provides the $12,665,000 cost of the new bridge and roundabout will be shared with MoDOT paying 50 percent and the other 50 percent by local agency partners, Taney County paying 40 percent, the city of Branson 8 percent and the city of Hollister 2 percent. The application also provides the local agency partners and MoDOT will share equally in any costs that exceed $12,665,000 on the same proportional basis. In addition to its 50 percent of the new bridge and roundabout, MoDOT is paying the entire $4,908,000 cost of rehabilitating and repairing the current bridge.
It was stressed throughout the meeting that the signing of the cost share application does not obligate any of the local agency partners to continue with the project. Although necessary if the project is to continue along in the process, the application is simply a request to MoDOT to cost share in the project which it may or may not do. Upon approval of the cost sharing application the next step would be the formal signing of an agreement between MoDOT and the local agency partners that will be binding.
Although MoDOT required the application to be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Sep.2 there was no firm date by which MoDOT had to accept or reject the application. The project timelines specified in the application are the project bid letting in the Fall of 2009, beginning of construction in late 2009 and project completion in the Fall of 2011.
Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.
