US 36 Project

U.S. 36 project now 60 percent complete

Hannibal Courier-Post - May 15, 2009

Macon, MO —   Last fall the Missouri Department of Transportation reached a milestone on the U.S. 36 corridor project, which will see 52 miles of the highway between Macon and Hannibal expanded to four lanes. The project surpassed the halfway mark shortly after opening the stretch of roadway between Monroe City and Hannibal.

Because of progress that contractors were able to make during the winter months, MoDOT now says the entire project is 60 percent complete. The section between Shelbina and Monroe City is expected to be open to traffic by November of this year. 
The project is reportedly on track to meet MoDOT’s completion commitment date of December 2010.

“We anticipate having the entire corridor open to traffic by July 2010,” said District Engineer Dan Niec in a press release. “When we began this project we had planned to have all lanes open to traffic an entire year earlier than promised. Unfortunately last year’s construction season was extremely challenging due to unusually heavy rainfall and localized flooding. Even with the unexpected weather delays we will complete the project six months earlier than promised.”

Following are the latest updates regarding the project:

• Shelbina to Monroe City: Weather permitting paving operations will begin from Monroe City and continue to the west. Crews will be working on erosion control and permanent sign installation, weather and site conditions permitting. This section is scheduled for completion November 2009.

 
• Macon to Shelbina: The contractor is continuing to install drainage structures at various locations throughout the project. 

Construction is nearing completion on three bridges - U.S. 36 over the Middle Fork of Salt River, U.S. 36 over Crooked Creek, and Route 151 over U.S. 36. Construction has begun on U.S. 36 over Route FF near South Shelby High School.
Earthwork operations continue to move forward. Construction of the Route 151 interchange is progressing.  This section scheduled to be open to traffic July 2010. 

Half of the expansion project’s cost is being funded by a one-half cent, 15-year TDD sales tax approved by voters in Marion, Monroe, Shelby and Macon counties in 2006.