City to Make Payment on Route 100 Project

The city of Washington has until the end of the month to deposit a substantial amount toward the next phase of the Highway 100 widening project.

The Missouri Department of Transportation notified the city that it is required to deposit $3,513,492 with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission by Oct. 31 under the cost-sharing agreement for the improvement project.

Construction of additional lanes from a point just west of Highway 47 to west of High Street is slated to be done in 2013-14.

Total cost of the project is estimated at $12,082,902 which includes engineering right of way acquisition, right of way incidental, utility relocations, construction and construction engineering.

That leaves the city’s total share at $6,041,451.

Under the cost participation agreement, if the city fails to remit a check for half that amount by Oct. 31, “the commission is under no obligation to continue with the project.”

The notice from MoDOT on the payment deadline was included in the city council’s agenda packet this week. There was no discussion.

MoDOT proposes to seek bids in January 2013 and award a contract early next year, followed by construction in the summer and fall of next year.

The city is funding its share of the 50-50 project out of the half-cent transportation sales tax approved by voters six years ago.

The plan is to widen Highway 100 from two to five lanes — four traffic lanes and one center turn lane — add dual left turn lanes on Route A/Jefferson Street and add pedestrian facilities and signalized intersections that comply with federal ADA standards.

All of the widening is proposed to be done on the north side of the highway which is expected to result in some cost savings.

When done, this work will complete the highway widening all the way from High Street to Interstate 44, a project that was promised when Washington voters approved the half-cent transportation sales tax in 2005.