An important step for Jefferson City's viaduct project earned approval from the state this week.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday signed legislation conveying portions of state-owned land around the High Street viaduct to the city.
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-District 6, and Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, gives Jefferson City the autonomy to make upgrades to the 75-year-old bridge and construct a new roundabout connecting High Street and Missouri Boulevard.
The bridge has been closed to drivers since February after it showed signs of decay with potholes and falling debris. The city built the bridge as a precaution against flooding in the low-lying west side of the Capitol.
In order to construct the new roundabout, the state needed to convey portions of the parking lots around the proposed intersection to create more space. The state will be giving up close to 50 parking spaces in total, according to Griffith.
"Parking lots around the Capitol are at a premium," he said.
Griffith said he was involved in many negotiations with the Office of Administration during the course of the legislative session to work out the terms of the conveyance. At the end of June, Kehoe approved a $15-million appropriation for the city's new downtown conference center. The parking garage included in that project means the state can afford to sacrifice a few dozen spots.
The first phase of the plan will be making repairs to the bridge and reopening it, which the Jefferson City Council previously approved with a $70,000 price tag. The larger project to replace the viaduct and build the new roundabout is projected to cost around $18 million by city officials. However, funding for the project is still uncertain as the city revealed earlier this month it was denied a $25-million grant for bridge developments.
During instances of heavy rain, Wears Creek can flood and create difficulties traveling between the east and west sides of the city. The High Street bridge offers protection against those dangerous events, like the Missouri River flood of 1993, but the infrastructure has to be maintained.
"The issue we have is the only time we talk about flooding is when we're threatened with a flood," Griffith said.
He also said pedestrian safety has been a priority for him in that area since he was first elected as Jefferson City's representative. The roundabout should streamline traffic and offer more clarity for drivers navigating around the viaduct.
"In the eight years I've been here, my concern always is someone will get hit," Griffith said.
The legislation states the terms and conditions for the conveyance have to be set by the Commissioner of the Office of Administration, and the Attorney General must approve the instruments of conveyance.
In addition to the viaduct project, the bill also conveys land around the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Services Program building along West Main Street back to the city.
The current office is being decommissioned, and workers will move to a new 208,000-square-foot laboratory once it is completed later this year on the east side of the city.
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House Bill 2108: Authorizes the conveyance of certain state property in Cole County.