Planning Commission reviews I-49 plans

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Plans to turn U.S. Highway 71 into Interstate 49 have been in the works for several years and now the Missouri Department of Transportation is looking at the minimum improvements they must finish to bring the highway up to Interstate standards so it can receive Interstate designation.

Sean Matlock, District 7 project manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation, told the Nevada Planning Commission that the Department of Transportation has scheduled a public meeting in Nevada Oct. 15 to discuss the project.

"We want to talk about what it will take to make I-49 a reality. We want to talk to property owners and other interested persons about what our ideas are to convert Highway 71 into I-49," Matlock told the commissioners.

He told the commissioners that Highway 71 between Interstate 44 and Bella Vista meets Interstate standards and the remaining portion of the highway between I-44 and Kansas City, plus the Missouri portion of the Bella Vista bypass is estimated to cast $345 million to do all of the work that is proposed.

However, Missouri only has a limited amount of money to spend on this project, so Matlock said they are proposing to adopt a "practical design" philosophy which will reduce the overall cost of the project.

According to Matlock, practical design would involve "building our projects to meet 'the need only' so we can build more improvements that will add to the benefits we can deliver to our customers."

He said that there are two aspects to a practical design philosophy that need to be made clear to everyone.

"We will not compromise safety. Every project we do will be safer after its completion and we will collaborate on the solution," he said.

Currently between Kansas City and I-44 Highway 71 is a multi-lane divided highway. However, because of numerous at-grade crossings the highway does not meet Interstate standards. To meet Interstate standards, all of the at-grade intersections will need to be eliminated.

"The early estimate is to convert that portion of Highway 71 to Interstate standards would cost about $200 million. And would include building 13 interchanges and 25 to 30 miles of outer road," he said.

Matlock said that the Department of Transportation is proposing five ideas to reduce overall cost.

First, use the existing right-of-way, second, use as much of the existing pavement as possible, third, only build interchanges where they are needed now and add others as they become needed in the future, fourth, use thinner pavement and fifth, use shorter spans on bridges. Instead of building a span with two spans, use four spans instead, since shorter spans cost less to build.

He said that in Vernon County they are proposing to build four interchanges as well as remove all at-grade crossings.

The Vernon County projects they are proposing include removing the at-grade intersection at Route TT near the Bates County line; Route D, build an interchange and construct 1/2 mile of outer road to eliminate on at-grade intersection; build an interchange for Route M at Compton Junction; Route E, build an interchange, plus outer roads to eliminate three at-grade crossings and to connect to Route BB and at Route DD, build an interchange, plus outer roads to connect to BB and eliminate the at-grade crossing for County Road 684.

Matlock said that there are no proposed changes to Highway 71 in Nevada.

He said that these projects will be discussed during the Oct. 15 public meeting and they will be looking for input from area residents.

In other business the planning commission:

* Held a public hearing and voted 7-0 to send a positive recommendation to the city council to change the zoning at the corner of Austin and Adams from C-0, non-retail district to C-1, local business district at the request of the owner, Norma Cory to allow her to continue to operate her Tropical Sno business at the location. The C-0 zoning does not allow for a retail business. She has had her business there for several years and had been issued a valid city occupation license every year. Cory only recently found out that the property was not properly zoned.

* Voted to postpone consideration of a request by Linda Barnes to rezone property she owns at 319 W. Austin, from C-0 to C-1. Barns was unable to attend Tuesday's meeting due to a medical emergency. Her property is directly east of the lot owned by Cory. However, the current C-0 zoning is appropriate for a real estate office.

* Voted to approve a 15 foot easement across Marmaduke Park at the request of the parks board to allow utilities to be run to the enclosed shelter that is to be built in Marmaduke Park.

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