Residents oppose Frog Hollow Road project

Climbing costs and other concerns are leading some residents to ask the city to reconsider the Frog Hollow Road project.

At the Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee on Thursday, Bill Ratliff spoke against the planned project, voicing a number of concerns and noting "there's a lot we don't know" about the project.

Ratliff, who owns a property on Frog Hollow Road, said the cost has increased on the project, which has caused no one to reconsider.

"Nobody is even blinking at the cost of this project," Ratliff said.

The estimated cost for the project, which will widen Frog Hollow Road and add access from Creek Trail Drive and Frog Hollow to Mission Drive, is nearly $3.5 million. The project is a cooperative venture between Jefferson City and Cole County governments.

In December 2012, it was announced that the Frog Hollow project would change the alignment of the road near Tanglewood Drive to soften what is now a sharp curve. The project begins at Edgewood Drive, where Frog Hollow Road will be widened, and curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be added. The main part of the project is to replace two old, narrow bridges on Frog Hollow Road over Wears Creek.

The streets project also will extend Creek Trail Drive to meet up with Frog Hollow Road and create a new intersection.

Ultimately, Frog Hollow Road will connect to the roundabout on Mission Drive, just north of the new St. Mary's Health Center already being built and scheduled to open in 2015.

Ratliff, who attended the meeting with several other nearby residents, said the road was going to be moved onto his property, along with a sidewalk he said nobody wants and he would be responsible for.

Interim Public Works Director Matt Morasch said the city has received both positive and negative feedback on the project, which is slated to start construction in the spring as long as the city can get the needed right-of-ways.

"We're trying to upgrade this roadway to more of a city standard," Morasch said.

Ratliff urged committee members to reconsider the project before it begins.

"It's hard to fight City Hall," Ratliff said. "Do we really need this at this time? ... We hope you'll say no."