SUNRISE BEACH – Village planner Roger Corbin updated the planning commission on a big infrastructure improvement that has been moved up on the Missouri Department of Transportation's schedule through work between the state department and the Sunrise Beach board of trustees.
The first proposed widening of Route 5 through the village, from Route F to around Sunrise Farmers Market, is now scheduled to go out for bid in July 2009, moving the project up about three years.
MoDOT approved the addition of a third lane through its matching funds program last fall, but they had no funds available until after 2011.
Now, through the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, Corbin said the city will pay interest on a loan for the total cost of the project, about $1 million, until MoDOT's money is available in 2012.
At that time, the state will pay its portion and the city will finance its part, about 40 percent of the project or $424,000, according to Corbin.
He said the construction would likely begin after the Labor Day weekend in 2009. MoDOT has already been out surveying the roadway, Corbin added.
As MoDOT plans the roadway expansion, the village is attempting to consolidate entrances to Route 5 in that area.
Many businesses have multiple driveways onto the roadway. All of these access points add to traffic congestion and accidents even with a third lane, according to Corbin.
“We need to make the widening last, at least 10 years,” he said. “We need the other lane to move traffic.”
Corbin said less access onto Route 5 will make the improvement last longer, make the project easier and will likely allow the widening to extend another 1/10-mile past Sunrise Farmers Market to Lake Road 5-39.
The benefit consolidation of driveways to merchants would be more parking space, Corbin added.
He said they are working with the U.S. Post Office in Sunrise Beach to move its entrance from Route 5 to Lake Road 5-41.
“That might just be the most poorly designed intersection on the west side, maybe even at the lake,” Corbin said. “We have the most accidents there and the most traffic tickets.”
The board of trustees is seeking to meet with area merchants in the near future to discuss other problem areas.
Amy Wilson is a reporter for the WestSide Star. Contact her at news@westsidestar.net