Chamber officials, business leaders plan to write letters in support of Highway 47 widening plan | Local News

The Missouri Section of Transportation (MoDOT) has put the challenge in its draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Method (STIP), a doc that outlines the state’s opportunity impending freeway projects, with the job tentatively slated to start off development in 2026 with practically an $86 million price tag. Having said that, the strategy could transform. The department is inquiring inhabitants and local community corporations to supply their enter on the plan and enable the point out know what jobs the community supports. 

County officers hope space inhabitants will tell MoDOT they want Freeway 47 widened.

“The more we worry the worth of this specific part, (of the state’s in general transportation strategy) the bigger the odds of earning confident it’s secured,” Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker stated at the Washington Place Freeway Transportation Committee assembly on Tuesday.

Other county officers urged citizens to just take portion as well.

“I believe it’s heading to be good for all the persons of Franklin County,” claimed District 2 County Commissioner Dave Hinson. “Pretty substantially everybody in the county travels by that corridor.”

He famous that there have been severe injuries from crashes and bottlenecks are prevalent along that extend.

“I imagine eventually what they’ll do is communicate about opening 47 from the Missouri River all the way up to Warrenton,” he included, explaining that it would be great for vehicles and other commercial traffic.

Hinson stated the a few customers of the county fee are functioning on a joint assertion to post to MoDOT for the duration of the remark period of time displaying aid for the project.

Widening Freeway 47 would benefit a lot of institutions in the course of the region, according to community leaders. 

The Washington Space Chamber of Commerce plans to draft a letter to mail to MoDOT as well, explained Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Giesike.

“We are definitely behind the widening of 47,” Giesike explained. “It’s something that requirements to occur for anyone who drives along there.”

Further south in St. Clair, people today are also in favor.

“We’re completely on board,” stated Charlene Saling, govt director of the St. Clair Chamber of Commerce. “I seriously imagine that it would increase to financial development alternatives for our neighborhood.”

She said her chamber plans to create a letter to MoDOT on behalf of its members and it encourages member businesses to do the similar.

On the other hand, she stated quite a few in St. Clair have been skeptical about widening Freeway 47 and no matter if it would actually lead to St. Clair and not just enable individuals striving to travel as a result of St. Clair to Washington. She thinks what individuals people today don’t know is that “traffic travels the two means.”

She famous that St. Clair is in the procedure of revitalizing its downtown and that the chamber is wanting to really encourage more development, which could appeal to far more people today on a newly-widened Highway 47.

Dr. Jon Bauer, president of East Central School, said the school, which is located in Union near Freeway 47, would gain from the undertaking too.

“The college or university supports the challenge because it will increase the helpful and economical development of the region,” he explained by means of electronic mail. “When complete, the task also will improve driver security and Highway 47 access to and from the Union campus.”

Business leaders are also fired up about the prospective clients of a broader Highway 47.

“Great infrastructure aids company improve,” reported Phillip James, director of Washington operations for WEG Transformers Usa. “Anytime we can strengthen the infrastructure coming into our company group, it’s a great matter.”

James mentioned he is in guidance of any updates to both Highways 47 or 100.

Tim Poepsel, CEO of Empac Team, claimed that his sheltered workshop company has vehicles driving along Highway 47 between its plants in Washington and Sullivan and warehouses in St. Clair.

“It will surely pace up time of delivery from our warehouses to our vegetation,” he reported. “And it is just the relieve of acquiring people today by means of and the irritation of driving in the site visitors.”

Both equally James and Poepsel reported their providers would send letters to MoDOT in guidance of the challenge.