Southeast Missouri in line for $64 million in transportation funds

Southeast Missouri could receive up to $64 million in road and port improvements if a proposed list of economic stimulus projects is adopted without changes.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking input on how to spend the state’s $525 million transportation allocation from the $787 billion federal economic stimulus bill. MoDOT was set to hold a public briefing on stimulus fund spending at 6 p.m. tonight at the District 10 office at 2675 N. Main St. in Sikeston.

In a list issued late Tuesday, MoDOT identified $64 million in road and port projects in District 10, which covers 14 counties from Ste. Genevieve County to the Bootheel. Projects near Cape Girardeau include widening Route W, repaving Route K, also known as William Street, construction of a high-water rail line at the Semo Port Authoriity and pavement improvements on Highway 51 in Perry County.

The list also proposes spending $625,000 for a transit facility in Mississippi County, $1.6 million for pavement maintenance at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and $2.5 million for runway overlays at Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport, and $7.1 million for a welcome center at Marston and I-55 in New Madrid County.

The state has $31 billion in transportation needs and is committed to being open about the way it chooses which of those needs to fund, MoDOT director Pete Rahn said.

For more information, check back at semissourian.com or read Wednesday’s Southeast Missourian.