Ashley Vasquez/The Smithville HeraldConstruction on a new intersection at Missouri Highway 92 and Commercial Avenue in Smithville is nearing the halfway point. MoDOT officials said construction on the project should be completed no later than Monday, Aug. 18, as planned.
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Construction at about halfway point
By Ashley Vasquez
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Missouri Highway 92 and Commercial Avenue in Smithville is moving forward on schedule, according to MoDOT officials.
Greg Stervinou, resident engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said the project should hit the 50 percent complete mark this week. Stervinou said crews are now relocating electrical and water lines and have nearly completed site work. Gravel underlay and concrete should be visible in the coming week.
“We are on schedule, and the project should be completed on time as scheduled before the school district reopens its doors for classes in August,” Stervinou said. “They are moving the underground utilities, and people should be able to see more progress in the coming days as concrete begins to be poured.”
MoDOT officials said construction on the project must be completed no later than Monday, Aug. 18, to comply with bid specifications and be finished before the Smithville R-II School District 2008-2009 school year begins Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Traffic has been detoured since June by MoDOT on Missouri Route DD, and local traffic can take a variety of side streets including Stonebridge Lane, Liberty Road, Tillman Road and others to gain access to businesses and neighborhoods surrounding the intersection. Additionally, businesses just west of the intersection including Scott’s Tractor, Smithville Express Lube and Smithville Dentist are still open and accessible via Highway 92 during the construction.
Smithville Police Chief Ken Wilson said drivers should continue to beware of the closure and pay close attention to the speed limits along Route DD.
“People seem to be minding the speed and doing well,” he said. “People should take note of the upcoming events in
downtown and be extra careful with many children out.”
MoDOT awarded the bid for the project at just over $800,000. It is being paid for through federal grant dollars. A roundabout is a small circular intersection that forces drivers
to yield to the vehicle to the left rather than having to stop at a four-way stop and look in three directions.
Smithville Editor Ashley Vasquez can be reached at 532-4444 or ashleyvasquez@npgco.com.
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Greg Stervinou, resident engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said the project should hit the 50 percent complete mark this week. Stervinou said crews are now relocating electrical and water lines and have nearly completed site work. Gravel underlay and concrete should be visible in the coming week.
“We are on schedule, and the project should be completed on time as scheduled before the school district reopens its doors for classes in August,” Stervinou said. “They are moving the underground utilities, and people should be able to see more progress in the coming days as concrete begins to be poured.”
MoDOT officials said construction on the project must be completed no later than Monday, Aug. 18, to comply with bid specifications and be finished before the Smithville R-II School District 2008-2009 school year begins Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Traffic has been detoured since June by MoDOT on Missouri Route DD, and local traffic can take a variety of side streets including Stonebridge Lane, Liberty Road, Tillman Road and others to gain access to businesses and neighborhoods surrounding the intersection. Additionally, businesses just west of the intersection including Scott’s Tractor, Smithville Express Lube and Smithville Dentist are still open and accessible via Highway 92 during the construction.
Smithville Police Chief Ken Wilson said drivers should continue to beware of the closure and pay close attention to the speed limits along Route DD.
“People seem to be minding the speed and doing well,” he said. “People should take note of the upcoming events in
downtown and be extra careful with many children out.”
MoDOT awarded the bid for the project at just over $800,000. It is being paid for through federal grant dollars. A roundabout is a small circular intersection that forces drivers
to yield to the vehicle to the left rather than having to stop at a four-way stop and look in three directions.
Smithville Editor Ashley Vasquez can be reached at 532-4444 or ashleyvasquez@npgco.com.
Comments on "Construction at about halfway point"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Herbert Woodruff wrote on Jul 28, 2008 11:15 PM:
" All I've read since I moved here is how tight the budget is in the area of highway construction and how the roads need more repairs the bridges east and west of Smithville need more work and we waste money on building a roundabout. Someone should have checked with the city of Clearwater Florida who did the same thing and then spent the next few years cleaning up after all the accidents. Now they have removed it at a higher price than it cost to build it in the first place. I wonder who is starting to allocate funds to tear out the one in Smithville. I don't know but I do know who will end up paying for it both in lifes lost and tax dollars wasted. We are not Europe and will not drive like they do over there. But, considering the great idea to build a flat spot in the middle of Smithville and call it a future development area why not have a roundabout. Anybody else got any great ideas just send them to Smithvill Missouri we will try anything. "
nas wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:50 AM:
" I have spent for a roundabout, what a waste I have had the wonderful experience of contending with those traffic hazards for the past 5 years in the Tiffany Springs & Zona Rosa area of the northland, most people turn a blind eye to who or whom is supposed to be yielding and when. Most drivers have no consideration for the other drivers out there. As a person who travels 92 hwy on daily basis commuting to work this way is a disaster waiting to happen, guess I should expect more traffic delays (for all of the wrecks that are going to happen) now than ever once it reopens, what a waste of the tax payers dollar. "