The Missouri Department of Transportation on Monday released the construction cost of each of the projects included in the draft list of the transportation improvements that would be funded through the proposed Constitutional Amendment 7.
If passed by voters on Aug. 5, the amendment would create a ¾-cent sales tax to fund transportation improvements across the state. The sales tax would last 10 years.
The tax would generate an estimated $5.39 billion, with $4.8 billion being used by MoDOT for transportation infrastructure improvements. The Department of Revenue would retain an estimated $50 million to pay for the collection of the sales tax. Missouri cities and counties would receive a combined $540 million to fund local transportation projects.
The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission will be finalize the draft list at its Wednesday meeting in Jefferson City.
The transportation agency's cost estimates include the cost of construction, engineering fees, any necessary utility relocation, and the rate of inflation.
Cole County
Central District Engineer David Silvester said in a June 19 interview that one of most talked about projects in Jefferson City is the additional lanes to the Whitton Expressway from Clark Avenue to Missouri Boulevard. The 1.5 miles of roadway improvements would cost about $17.17 million.
MoDOT would contribute $8 million to increase the number of service hours offered by Jefferson City's public transit system by four hours each day.
Jefferson City Memorial Airport's runway would be extended at the price tag of $4.2 million.
Also on the draft list for Cole County are the establishment of a new OATS transit service line between Columbia and Jefferson City. MoDOT would contribute $1 million to help fund the regional service.
Below are the other projects on the draft list from Cole County with the cost estimates in parentheses:
• Sidewalk improvements along Ellis Boulevard ($1.10 million).
• Expansion of the Greenway Trail from Dunklin Trail to McCarty Street ($59,000).
• Bridge maintenance on Missouri 179 over Rock Creek, south of Marion ($69,000).
• Bridge repair on U.S. 54 over Neighorn Creek ($94,000).
• The Route A bridge near the Moniteau and Cole County line will either be replaced or repaired ($60,000).
• Missouri 17 from U.S. 54 to Missouri 52 near Tuscumbia is listed as being resurfaced and new road shoulders added ($2.92 million).
• Route B from Lorenzo Green Drive in Jefferson City to the Missouri 133 intersection in Meta ($4.82 million).
Boone County
One of the most expensive projects in the state is the expansion of Interstate 70 from four lanes to six lanes throughout the state. Cost estimates provided by the transportation agency for the project are more than $823 million, making it the most expensive project in the state. According to the Associated Press, the project may see additional funding through the sale of bonds.
The cost estimate includes interchange improvements in the Kansas City and St. Louis communities. There was not a specific cost estimate for the Boone County portion.
The Columbia Regional Airport would receive a facelift if Columbia can match MoDOT's contributions with $9 million for the new airport terminal. The new airport terminal would cost an estimated $18 million. Other improvements involving the airport are expanding the runway ($4.5 million) and pavement improvements to Airport Drive and the airport parking lot ($50,000).
Another project for Boone County is the reconfiguration of the I-70 and U.S. 63 interchange. According to MoDOT, the $20 million project would add directional ramps to the interchange.
Below are the other projects on the draft list from Boone County with the cost estimates in parentheses:
• Extending Stadium Boulevard from its current U.S. 63 interchange to Route WW east of Columbia ($17.22 million).
• Additional funding Columbia Public Transit to add two additional service hours to the transit system ($10.5 million).
• The Route F bridge over Perche Creek would be replaced or repaired ($49,000).
• The Coon Creek Bridge on Route F, north of Harrisburg, would be replaced or repaired ($64,000).
• The Missouri 124 bridge over Grindstone Creek would see some form of bridge maintenance ($73,000).
• Various road resurfacing ($6.59 million).
• Sidewalk improvements ($1 million).
Callaway County
Below are the projects on the draft list from Callaway County with the cost estimates in parentheses:
• Additional lanes to U.S. 54 and U.S. 63 from north of the Missouri River bridges to the U.S. 63 and U.S. 94 intersection ($1.52 million).
• Route J bridge over Millers Creek will be replaced or repaired ($32,000).
• The U.S. 63 southbound bridge over the Katy Trail will be repaired ($2.14 million).
• The I-70 outer road bridge over Whetstone Creek will be replaced or repaired ($18,000).
• Adding ramps to the north side of U.S. 54 and South Summit Drive interchange in Holts Summit ($1.97 million).
• Two sidewalk projects in Holts Summit ($1.15 million).
Miller County
Below are the projects on the draft list from Miller County with the cost estimates in parentheses:
• New interchange at U.S. 54 and Route W at the Lake of the Ozarks ($13.28 million).
• New terminal facilities, hangers and parking lot improvements at the Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport at Osage Beach ($1.20 million).
• Route A bridge will either be repaired or replaced over Tavern Creek.
Moniteau County
Major change to the traffic flow on Missouri 50 near the Tipton and Syracuse communities are planned, according to documents provided by MoDOT.
The current plan is for Missouri 50 to expand to four lanes from California to Tipton, with a new bypass planned between Tipton and Syracuse. Once west of these two communities, Missouri 50 will continue as a four-lane road to the Morgan County line.
The entire project is estimated to cost $91.48 million, making it the fifth most expensive project in the proposed plans.
Osage County
U.S. 63 will become a shared four-lane from Missouri 50 to Maries County Road 209, south of Freeburg. The project is the fourth most expensive in the state, costing an estimated $93 million.
Two new lanes of Missouri 50 will be constructed from Osage County Road 604 to Missouri 89, north of Linn. Estimated cost is $38.64 million.
Under the current plan, MoDOT would make a one-time funding contribution of $5.52 million to the Union Pacific Railroad to remove the bottleneck at Bonnots Mill and to improve freight and Amtrak passenger rail service.
The bridge on Missouri 100 at Shawnee Creek would either be replaced or repaired for $52,000.