Contract awarded for roundabout, U.S. 61 project

U.S. 61 will be widened and a roundabout constructed in Perryville as part of a $4.5 million project approved Friday by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

The commission awarded the contract to Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson.

Construction is expected to begin in June and be completed by summer 2004, state highway officials said.

Besides widening, the gravel shoulders will be replaced with concrete curb and gutter and a center turn lane will be added to U.S. 61 from new Highway 51 to just south of Huber Road in Perryville. A roundabout will be built at the Main Street and U.S. 61 intersection, Missouri Department of Transportation officials said.

"The roundabout will eliminate the two-way turn lanes of the current intersection," MoDOT engineer Matt Malone aid.

The existing U.S. 61 and Main Street interchange was built in the 1930s. Since the existing streets intersect at a sharp angle, a more oval-shaped roundabout will be constructed, Malone said.

The intersection will be closed for about 25 days during construction. There also will be times during construction when traffic on U.S. 61 will be reduced to one lane, he said.