NASH ROAD EXTENSION BIDS COME IN WITHIN ESTIMATES

The first phase of construction on a long-awaited extension of Nash Road eastward into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, should be under way in October.

Several of the bids opened by officials of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department last week were within cost estimates.

The highway commission should be in position to award a contract at its Sept. 9 meeting, said District 10 Highway Engineer Freeman McCullah on Monday.

The apparent low bidder was Bloomsdale Excavation Co. at $1.9 million. In all, there were nine bidders on the project and five others were within $300,000 of the lowest bid.

The first phase of the project covers 1.6 miles for grading and fill between Ramsey Creek and the railroad tracks.

Dan Overbey, executive director of the port authority, said that in some areas, 15 to 20 feet of dirt will be added to bring the road above the 100-year flood level.

Both Overbey and McCullah said that with the work starting this fall, it should be completed before any flooding of the Mississippi River next spring could slow it down.

Early next year, bids will likely be let for the construction of two bridges over Ramsey Creek. At the same time or soon after, bids will be sought for a railroad overpass at the port.

Another phase of the project is grading from the railroad eastward to Route K, and then a contract would be let for final grading and overall paving. But McCullah said it is possible a contract will be awarded for part of the paving sooner, to take advantage of an economic development grant received recently by Scott City.

The interchange at Nash Road and I-55 will be revised as part of the project. That will include the addition of a northbound acceleration lane, which will require the widening of the diversion channel bridge.

With the interchange work included, the total cost of the project will approach $12 million.

Overbey is pleased with the progress made. By extending Nash Road into the port, he said, it will provide more direct access to facilities at the port and further enhance its intermodal capabilities.

As its share of the project, the port acquired right-of-way from Ramsey Creek east, financed some preliminary engineering, and completed the required environmental assessments.

Plans are open the road to traffic sometime in late 1996, and McCullah said he is optimistic that goal will be met.

McCullah praised the cooperation shown by officials at the port to move Nash Road forward.

He explained that a project as complex as the Nash Road extension generally takes seven years from conception to completion. Since the plan was initially taken to the highway commission in early 1991, McCullah said it looks like the seven-year rule will be shortened considerably.

"Everybody has worked together and been concerned about this project," said McCullah. "I know many people wanted it done earlier, but it is pretty nice to see it going this fast with everything that needed to be done. This has been a good cooperative effort."