Lake group seeks to beautify US 54 interchange

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. - The Board of Aldermen on Thursday endorsed a proposed Highway 54 Expressway intersection beautification project.

Joe Roeger, Lake Area Chamber of Commerce board president, presented the idea to beautify intersections/overpasses along U.S. 54 through the city of Osage Beach, showing two design concepts, which included painting along with decorative and functional lighting. Roeger said the idea helps to fulfill a commitment the Lake Area chamber made to the city to provide a western entrance to Osage Beach.

Roeger shared two initial concepts of beautifying intersections/overpasses on Highway 54 Expressway, which were designed by Tom Roof, president of TXR Architects + Constructors. The first concept uses decorative steel lighting placed along the roadway of the overpass and beautification at the interchange.

"(As Roof stated) the lighting is decorative steel and would go on the outside of the guardrail to prevent obstruction of traffic flow and ensure safety," Roeger said during his presentation to the board.

The second concept includes color-coding each intersection with possible corresponding signage to help guide travelers to the appropriate city street and/or business district they want to access. The name of the roadway could be added to the concrete on the overpass, as well, Roeger said.

He told the Board of Aldermen that Roof also shared some insight and design of LED lighting concepts the project's organizers suggested. Roeger said the lighting would be located under the decking of the overpass and be similar to what is used as the Lake of the Ozarks "Hollywood" style sign along the eastern Lake entrance of Highway 54 Expressway.

Roeger said Roof's initial project concepts should be bold and simple, visual and attractive. In presenting the concepts and Roof's renderings of those ideas, they used the first main Highway 54 Expressway interchange: the overpass at Route KK.

"We would use the KK intersection as a demo project. However, after looking at funds provided and a mechanism for maintenance, we can see if we can do some or all of the expressway interchanges/overpasses," Roeger said.

Rough estimates of the project, Roeger said, could cost between $10,000 and $15,000, which includes one interchange design, utilizing lighting, paint and beautification.

He added private and public funding mechanisms are still being discussed. If only one interchange as a western entrance to the city is the final plan, funding similar to what local entities generated for the welcome garden near the Lake Ozark/Osage Beach city limit boundary could be used, he said.

"But, if it's four or more interchanges in the design, it is a different story," Roeger said, noting an option could be a Community Improvement District from the business community. "We'll see where it goes."

"The city has been generous in helping financially with our welcome garden and the Lake of the Ozarks "Hollywood' sign. ... I think this is a great idea, and we'll get a committee together and hope the city can help," he added.

At the meeting Thursday, Roeger said he had already discussed the proposed project with Bob Lynch, area engineer for Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). He said Lynch had expressed some safety and maintenance concerns.

Roeger hopes to develop the project committee with a meeting tentatively planned for mid-January. Committee members will then develop the idea more and finalize a concept to present to MoDOT and share with the city.