Economic stimulus brings I-49 plans into forefront

The Missouri Department of Transportation is forging ahead with the conversion of U.S. Highway 71 to Interstate 49; but although behind-the-scenes activity toward that goal seems to be stepping ahead, is will be some time before work takes place in Vernon County.

Sean Matlock, Joplin MoDOT representative, said that the final stages of the project in Cass County wouldn't see contract proposals until 2013 and even in Vernon County the contracts wouldn't be let until 2010 with work beginning no earlier than 2011.

"There are some things that have to happen before work begins in Vernon County," Matlock said. "We're thinking the funds will be used north of Joplin, but that might not be the case. If that happens it will be the fall of 2010 before the projects are let for bid, so it will be 2011 before you see any dirt work getting started."

Several intersections in Vernon County will be closed and some will be upgraded to interchanges. At the southern edge of Vernon County all of the intersections between the county line and DD will be closed as well as all the intersections north to E including the current Milo intersection. Drivers will have to use the outer roads to access the interchanges at DD and E.

North of Nevada M, D and TT intersections will be upgraded to interchanges, the interchange at Horton will remain and all other intersections will be closed.

A public hearing was recently held in Rich Hill concerning the interchange at Route TT in north Vernon County. Matlock said that it was originally planned to not upgrade the intersection but an infusion of economic stimulus money changed that.

Area residents said that more than 80 people turned out for the hearing -- a large number for such an event at Rich Hill.

"At one point we only had a limited amount of funding for the conversion and we'd originally planned for four projects," Matlock said. "We have some economic recovery funds and we'll be able to go forward with the Route TT interchange."

Matlock said the comments since the public meeting favored the first proposed alternative presented by MoDOT. The first proposal had the interchange north of the railroad overpass and the second alternative had the interchange south of the overpass.

"The more popular was the original design, at least the comments so far, right now, are for the original," Matlock said.

Vernon County Presiding Commissioner Bonnie McCord attended the public hearing at Rich Hill and said she was surprised that with such a large turnout people weren't complaining.

"Neal and I attended the meeting at Rich Hill and I didn't really hear unhappy people," McCord said. "There was a lot of support for the original idea and people seemed to be happy with it."

To see the options presented at the public hearing the MoDOT Web site has them at: http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/RouteT.... Comments are open and the public can comment on the proposed designs by e-mail: Sean.Matlock@modot.mo.gov or by calling (417) 629-3300. Comments close April 24, 2009.

When the project was first conceived in 2003 MoDOT planned on a very gradual conversion and the use of practical design solutions, which would lower costs by building only those projects to meet the most basic need. That would not have upgraded U.S. 71 to interstate standards but MoDOT would have pursued other funding to complete the upgrade. The influx of economic stimulus funds seems to have changed that but the timeline is uncertain.

"We were trying to do it with the funding we had," Matlock said. "Since we've got funding now we will upgrade to the standard. Once we have the projects completed we will have to apply to AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, for final approval before we could mark it as an interstate."

McCord said she did have a concern with the possible upgrade to interstate status, and that was the lack of access roads in some areas.

"We are in a county with a large agronomy base, so my big concern is that if and when it goes interstate we will be at a big disadvantage because they won't have outer roads along some stretches," McCord said. "Every time I've spoken to MoDOT I've expressed my concern about this."