Three potential roundabouts along the Clark Avenue corridor in Jefferson City could receive state funding through a cost-share program.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday announced 20 transportation projects will receive $50 million under his transportation cost-share program, including $1.19 million for the City of Jefferson.
The list of program funding recommendations included the project sponsor, project description and recommended funding listed the City of Jefferson as the sponsor of three roundabouts along the Clark Avenue corridor at Dunklin Street and on either side of U.S. 50/63 Elm Street and Miller Street.
The roundabout at Clark Avenue and Dunklin Street is a city project. Recently, the Jefferson City Council approved the purchase of a property at the intersection within the right-of-way of the proposed roundabout.
In June, the council heard a proposal for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection, which one council member described as a "quirky, odd intersection." In July, the council approved an engineering design contract with Bartlett & West for $152,556.
Sonny Sanders, director of the Jefferson City Department of Planning and Protective Services, said the city felt they should move forward with the project by purchasing the properties, but a contract for the construction of the roundabout has not yet been approved by council.
"If they're getting to the point of approving the acquirement of the right-of-way, then the project is pretty much something that will move forward," Sanders said.
Plans put construction for that roundabout in 2022.
The other two roundabouts are Missouri Department of Transportation projects, said Adam Pulley, central district communications manager for MoDOT.
Sanders said the idea for the three roundabouts came from the Environmental Impact Statement in 2011.
The study recommended a realignment of Clark Avenue, including roundabouts on both sides of Rex Whitton Expressway at the Clark Avenue interchange, similar to the twin roundabouts on both sides of the highway at East McCarty Street.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Missouri to turn infrastructure investments into workforce investments," Parson said in a news release. "The number of applications shows that these partnerships are not only of great interest but of great benefit to Missourians. It also highlights that many unfunded transportation needs remain in our state."
MoDOT's Cost-Share Committee - made up of MoDOT's chief engineer, chief financial officer, assistant chief engineer, and two director-appointed employees along with DED staff - reviewed 48 applications requesting more than $92 million to deliver $321 million in projects.
The committee selected 20 applications to receive the $50 million, which will deliver $131 million in projects upon approval by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in January.
During the legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly appropriated $50 million to create the governor's transportation cost-share program, which provides financial assistance to public and private applicants for public road and bridge projects. The program matches up to 50 percent of the construction contract costs for selected projects.
Ten percent of the funds are set aside for projects that demonstrate economic development. MoDOT and DED worked with project sponsors to determine when projects may generate economic development.
The departments may contribute up to 100 percent of construction contract costs from the 10 percent set aside for these projects.
MoDOT and Economic Development selected the projects with the goal of building partnerships with local entities to deliver road and bridge projects that have the greatest economic benefit to the state, according to a news release.