A $500,000 project to construct a sidewalk along U.S. 63 in Houston has received the approval of a regional panel.
The Missouri Department of Transportation said the effort to construct a sidewalk from West Highway 17 near Corner Express to Houston Walmart Supercenter next year was among $3.1 million in projects to receive federal transportation alternative funds. The city will pay $100,000 of the project cost. Grant funding will pay the rest.
Thirty-five applications were received in November totaling $8.5 million. The projects consisted of trails, historical preservation projects and sidewalks. A selection committee comprised of representatives from local regional planning commissions and a southeast Missouri organization reviewed applications before making their recommendations.
Selected to receive transportation alternative funds were: Bloomfield, Campbell, Senath, New Madrid, Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Piedmont, Ava, Houston, Desloge, Park Hills and Jackson.
These funds, which are set aside by Congress to be used specifically for alternative transportation projects, allow communities to develop projects that improve the quality of a community and enhance the travel experience for people traveling by all modes.
The Houston project is in conjunction with the addition of more lanes to U.S. 63 — resulting in three to five lanes through a portion of the communityÂ