Highway commission awards contract for improvements to U.S. 60, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract during its regular meeting Wednesday for improvements to U.S. 60 outer roads, Highway 51 at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, and roads within the refuge in Stoddard County. The $1,251,974 contract was awarded to ASA Asphalt Inc. of Advance, Mo. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided $900,000 in funding for the project. The project includes an overlay on U.S. 60 near Route TT at Fisk, Mo. The project includes widening and resurfacing Highway 51 at Mingo north of Puxico, Mo. Work could begin this spring and is expected to be completed by late fall 2011, weather permitting. Currently, the refuge is inundated with floodwaters, which may delay the start of the project. As improvements are underway on state routes, traffic will be reduced to one lane. The improvements within the refuge will likely result in temporary road closures. Work zones will be marked with signs as the improvements are being made. For more information, contact district design engineer Barry Horst at 573-472-5289, resident engineer Steve Bubanovich at 573-840-9781, or MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636.