The Missouri Department of Transportation has unveiled a special web page focused on work planned for U.S 63 in 2007 and 2008.
The site is at www.modot.org/southcentral/Route63.
As a major highway, U.S. 63 falls under the MoDOT direction to improve major routes to good condition by the end of 2011. The first wave of this initiative was the Smooth Roads Initiative, which was completed one year ahead of schedule in December 2006. It included the first 2,200 miles of Missouri’s 5,500-mile major highway system.
The next 3,300 miles is addressed under the current Better Roads, Brighter Future program.
Better Roads, Brighter Future improvements include roadway surface treatments and safety improvements such as wider striping, brighter signing, additional rumble strips and improved shoulders. Some of the projects planned for U.S. 63 are slated under the Better Roads, Brighter Future program. Others are commitments outlined in the 2007-2010 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan.
The five-year, ongoing plan outlines projects identified as priorities by MoDOT and its regional planning partners. Once the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approves the plan, its contents become commitments of the department.
Plans under the Better Roads, Brighter Future Program and the STIP include several projects along U.S. 63 through the South Central District (Howell, Texas and Phelps counties) in 2007 and 2008. The following list outlines when and where work will occur, offers a brief description of planned improvements and indicates which projects fall under Better Roads, Brighter Future. Some projects have been accelerated from their original timelines in the plan.
They are:
*Texas County, U.S. 63 from Highway U to 0.2 miles north of U.S. 60 (4.21 miles) – roadway resurfacing, construction of shoulders and intersection improvements; construction began March 2007, expected completion October 2007
*Better Roads, Brighter Future Project – Texas County, U.S. 63 from Highway B through Houston. (1.4 miles) – diamond grinding and shoulder chip sealing; scheduled to be let for contractor bids last month; estimated start date summer 2007; expected completion December 2007
*Better Roads, Brighter Future Project – Phelps and Texas counties, north of the Texas County line to Highway 32 in Licking. (10.32 miles) – roadway resurfacing; estimated mid-July 2007; expected completion October 2007
*Better Roads, Brighter Future Project – Phelps County, 3.1 miles north of Edgar Springs to south of Highway K (11.4 miles) – roadway resurfacing and striping for climbing and passing lanes; scheduled to be let for contractor bids last month; expected completion July 2008
*Better Roads, Brighter Future Project – Phelps County, Highway CC in Rolla to 3.6 miles south of the Little Piney River (13.42 miles) – roadway resurfacing and striping for climbing and passing lanes; estimated start date summer 2007; expected completion July 2008
*Phelps County, Beaver Creek Bridge (.50 mile) – bridge replacement; scheduled to be let for contractor bids in September 2007; estimated start date early 2008; expected completion December 2008
*Better Roads, Brighter Future Project – Phelps County, Maries County line to Interstate 44 (6.47 miles) – roadway resurfacing and asphalt shoulder construction; estimated start date spring 2007; expected completion July 2008