93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Columbia’s bicycle and pedestrian commission will outline several of the state Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) high-priority unfunded needs projects at tonight’s meeting.
Two of the projects that they’ll discuss will include a $12-million project for capacity and safety improvements at Columbia’s Highway 63 and Broadway interchange, as well as $22-million for capacity and safety interchange improvements at Highway 63 and Route B.
The projects are outlined in a new six-page MoDOT report.
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says the improvements at 63 and Broadway are needed to increase economic growth and to improve safety. There’s a Central Bank of Boone County branch at that interchange, and it’s essentially the entrance to a major medical corridor on Keene, with Women’s hospital and numerous medical and dental facilities there. The Highway 63 and Route B interchange is near Columbia’s “food corridor”, which includes Swift Foods, Nabisco, Kraft Heinz and the popular Como Smoke and Fire restaurant.
Two other unfunded MoDOT projects that will be discussed tonight include $5-million to build a new bridge over Persche creek to create a continuous outer road parallel to I-70, as well as $27-million to extend Stadium Boulevard from east of Highway 63 near Kelly Farms to Route WW.
The commission meets this evening at 7 at city hall.
The whole of Columbia should have been bypassed, with connections to hwy 63 being made north of the city. Columbia highway system is too close now. Call it a loop or something, much like I270 or I435. But politics got in the way I’m sure. Other major university towns have bypasses because to conjested