A plan to push ahead with the upgrading of U.S. 71 to interstate highway standards between Kansas City and Joplin was scheduled to be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at the commission’s meeting Wednesday in Springfield.
The commission would meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 4) in the large conference room at Springfield City Utilities, 301 E. Central St.
The U.S. 71 proposal going before the commission – to be presented by MoDOT/Joplin Region District Engineer Becky Baltz – would accelerate U.S. 71 upgrades between Kansas City and Joplin. The proposal also would apply some funds toward a modified Bella Vista Bypass plan in coordination with the state of Arkansas.
Other meeting highlights:
* Springfield Region District Engineer Kirk Juranas was to update the commission on projects in the 12-county area surrounding Springfield.
* Springfield City Manager Greg Burris would go over partnering projects on road improvements involving Springfield, Greene County and MoDOT.
* MoDOT Springfield Main-tenance Crew Leader Kris Sandgren of Nixa was to be recognized for his recent 2,600-mile bicycle ride, on his own time, to help raise money for a Fallen Workers Memorial. The memorial would be erected near the Capitol in Jefferson City.
Sandgren is married to Dorothy Wittorff, of Ava and is the son-in-law of Laura Wittorff, Ava.
The commission was to meet in closed session involving contracts, legal issues and individual personnel matters in two meetings — 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Express, 1117 E. St. Louis St., and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday at City Utilities (immediately ahead of the open meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday).
