$6 million for area transportation projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation released more than $6 million in federal funds for transportation projects in the Southeast Missouri.

"By ensuring our transportation infrastructure is up-to-date, this region will continue to be a magnet for new jobs and businesses," said Bond. "I am proud to have secured these funds which are a great investment in Southeast Missouri."

"We are excited with the number and variety of projects included from Southeast Missouri.The improvements will be a huge economic boost to the region as well as promoting safety for motorists and providing for more efficient movement of freight.We appreciate all that Senator Bond has done to ensure these projects move forward," MoDOT Planning Manager Bill Robison said.

As ranking member of the Senate subcommittee that funds the Department of Transportation, Bond secured these funds in the fiscal year 2008 spending bill.The DOT released funds for the following Missouri projects:

*$1.8 million for the Route D Road Improvement Project in Pemiscot County.This project will extend Route D (Port Road) from its intersection with Route 84 southward to Interstate 155 using a modified alignment of County Road 337.This corridor is expected to become the primary truck route for commercial traffic entering and leaving the Pemiscot Port Authority and Western Tennessee, thus removing this traffic from downtown Caruthersville.As part of a previous State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) project this phase has preliminary design work and an environmental assessment done

* $367,500 for Caruthersville Downtown Infrastructure Road Redevelopment in Caruthersville. This project will consist of an overlay on Ward Ave. from 7th St. to Riverfront St. and on Walker Ave. from the seawall to 7th Ave.

*$2.2 million for Highway 67 (Wappapello Bridge) Four Lane Improvement Project in Wayne County.This project will construct a new four-lane bridge over Wappapello Lake. This bridge will match the four-lane US Route 67 project. Construction on the bridge is currently underway.

* $735,000 for Route EE Road/Multi-Modal Improvement Project in New Madrid County. This project constructs road improvements including paving into the St. Jude Industrial Park and New Madrid County Port Authority. This project will increase safety and capacity in the industrial park.

*$735,000 for Route AB/Nash Road Improvement Project in Scott County.This project involves road improvements at Route AB/Nash Road in the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.Key goals of the project include increased capacity and mobility in the port area.

* $558,600 for Route AB Route Extension in Cape Girardeau.This project will construct an extension of Route AB from existing Route AB to Missouri Routes 25 and 77.The extension will create a more direct route to and from the port and Route 25 enhancing economic development.Cape Girardeau County is responsible for acquiring right of way and constructing an embankment on the existing county road alignment for this project.This project will be awarded in December 2009.