U. S. 36 Construction in fast lane to finish

August 8, 2008

Doug Wilson

MACON, Mo. — Construction work along the U.S. 36 corridor is generally ahead of schedule and a local sales tax is on track to be paid off ahead of schedule.

 

Members of the U.S. 36/I-72 Corridor Coalition heard updates Thursday on the opening of a new five-mile section of four-lane U.S. 36 from Monroe City to the east. Another 5.5-mile section farther east could be open as early as Tuesday.

 

Edward Douglas, chairman of the corridor group, said the remainder of the 42 miles of twolane U.S. 36 between Monroe City and Macon should be upgraded to four lanes by the end of 2009.

 

Missouri Department of Transportation plans then call for the older sections of pavement to be repaired along the entire length of U.S. 36.

 

Larry Craig of Hannibal said sales tax collections to help pay for the U.S. 36 construction is going ahead of projections. The half-cent sales tax was approved by voters in Marion, Monroe, Shelby and Macon counties in 2005. The collections through the first year and two and a half years have been about $200,000 higher  than expected.

 

“We have raised $6.8 million so far ... and at that rate we could have the tax sunset after 13 years,” Craig said.

 

That would be two years ahead of the 15-year sunset promised to voters on the sales tax issue.

 

Craig reported at the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission meeting in Canton on Wednesday that construction bids also came in under expectations along U.S. 36. The local cost share was once expected to be $43 million, but now could be as low as $35 million.

 

Jack Briggs of Cameron said MoDOT has removed a traffic signal at Shelbina and is considering the removal of the signal in Cameron, now the only stop sign along U.S. 36 in Missouri.

 

Coalition members also heard a report on the proposed Hannibal Expressway, which would divert non-local traffic around the western side of Hannibal. The expressway is considered a priority for the Avenue of the Saints and for a smooth transition for the U.S. 36 upgrades.