Focus on Bridges
Missouri’s bridge program received a much-needed boost in 2019.
Throughout the year, Gov. Mike Parson repeatedly stressed the need to fund Missouri’s infrastructure. In his State of the State address, he asked the Missouri General Assembly to consider a concurrent resolution to fund 250 bridge projects – bridges already programmed for repair or replacement in the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
The legislature ultimately approved $301 million in bonding revenue to repair or replace 215 bridges, contingent upon the department receiving collateral funding in the form of a federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant.
In addition, the legislature included $50 million in general revenue in the fiscal year 2020 state budget to repair or replaced 45 bridges throughout the state and $50 million for a cost-share program.
MoDOT learned in late July Missouri had been awarded $81.2 million in INFRA funds toward replacement of the I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport and construction of I-70 climbing lanes at Mineola Hill in Montgomery County, the largest competitive grant MoDOT has ever received. The award also initiated the governor’s “Focus on Bridges” program. The $301 million bonding program will free up $301 million from the current STIP for new transportation improvement projects.
Read additional stories from this state:
- Columbia I-70 Bridges Design-Build Project
- Columbia I-70 Bridges Design-Build Project
- Focus on Bridges
- I-270 North Design-Build Project
- I-435 South Loop Link
- I-435 South Loop Link Opens the Way to Shorter Commutes
- I-70I-435 Interchange Reconstruction
- Infrastructure Improvements for Downtown S. Louis
- Infrastructure Improvements for Downtown St. Louis
- Kansas City Divergabout Project
