Work is slated to begin this summer on a $1.7 million project that adds additional lanes to U.S. 63 through the City of Houston, a top district MoDOT official told the Houston City Council on Monday.
Council members also signaled their interest in adding a sidewalk.
Chris Rutledge, an assistant engineer, said bids will be let in March and later approved by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.
The plan calls for:
•Three lanes from the Brushy Creek Bridge to First Street.
•Five lanes from First Street to Sonic Drive In.
•Three lanes from South U.S. 63 southward to the city limits.
•Reconfiguring some traffic lights.
•Eliminating highway curbing at the Holder Drive intersection.
The city also hopes to add a sidewalk on the west side of the highway from Corner Express to Walmart Supercenter. Rob Conaway with Archer Engineering in Rolla was tasked with preparing designs and estimates as the city applies by mid-November for federal transportation funds under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) that would pay — if successful — about 80 percent of the work. The council discussed dipping into reserves to pay for the project.
In other matters:
—A council committee will look at a road easement north of Fourth Street to see if trees need to be removed. It plans no new construction. Property owner Terry Snelling met with the council.
—Heard that the Houston Parks and Recreation Board will assume operation of concessions for baseball and basketball games during the upcoming season. Toni McKinney, a park board member, has worked to develop a budget as the city works toward a 2015 document.
—The council approved an ordinance that sets in motion a grant that helps pay for the city’s transportation system.