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Joplin City Council Road Project Approval

By: Jessica Schaer
Updated: January 22, 2013
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JOPLIN, MO.--- Road projects was the main theme of tonight's Joplin City Council meeting. 

"Back in 2004, the citizens saw fit to authorize a sales tax increase that would enable some roadway improvement projects to take place," states Mark Rohr, Joplin City Manager.

The last phase of Zora Street between Missouri and Highview, Schifferdecker between 32nd and 7th streets, and 26th Street between Maiden Lane and Schifferdecker are all expected to begin construction late this year and into 2014.

Those projects include widening those areas and tonight city leaders approved ordinances to obtain land nearby.

"There's a lot of right-of-way issues that have to be addressed prior to the construction taking place and that's what council was doing this evening," says Rohr.

The right-of-way procedures to prepare for the changes could begin within the next few months.

"In terms of roadway projects, sometimes you got to tear it down to build it back better. So, we would urge patience," states Rohr.

Also approved tonight, was a resolution for a $1.4 million project to build a new bridge on Schifferdecker over Turkey Creek. 

"It's down in the flood plain, it's an older structure, and so it needs to be redone," states David Hertzberg, Joplin, Director of Public Works. 

It will be a larger 3 lane bridge with shoulders to support heavy trucks that want to bypass downtown Joplin.

"We anticipate trucks, and rather than going down Main Street, they'd be looking for that western route to get around the community," says Hertzberg.
 
City leaders say, while it may be an inconvenience for a short time, it will help in the long run.

"Try to create as efficient traffic flow as we can within the city," says Rohr. 

Each road project is expected to take roughly 18 months to complete. Also, plans to follow through with the 20th Street viaduct are still on hold until members with the Department of Public Works hear from the Federal Highway Administration.

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