From Marshall Road to east of Kentucky Ave.
Never fear, motorists in Platte City, the improvement work to the pothole-filled stretch of Hwy. 92 is coming–possibly as early as this weekend.
As previously reported in The Landmark, the stretch of Hwy. 92 from roughly Marshall Road near the post office to Kentucky Avenue near QuikTrip developed a mine field of potholes in the winter months. MoDOT earlier this spring did come do some patchwork on the stretch, but even with the patches motorists are finding the drive is still anything but smooth.
A milling and overlay of Hwy. 92 through Platte City was not originally scheduled by the Missouri Department of Transportation for a few years, but the rapid deterioration of that stretch of the highway brought some complaints. The complaints came from motorists and also from the City of Platte City.
Encouragement from the city has now prompted MoDOT to schedule milling and overlay for this summer. Platte City’s “encouragement” not only came through complaints but also through the city’s willingness to share in the cost of the improvements this summer.
“The city and MoDOT have discussed entering into a 50/50 cost share for this work, although MoDOT is proceeding with the work and will be responsible for all project payments,” DJ Gehrt, city administrator for Platte City, said. “They (MoDOT) are aware that they are responsible for 100 percent of the cost if it is not possible to reach a satisfactory cost share agreement.”
Original discussions had the area to be improved running from Kentucky to Marshall, but MoDOT has now expanded the scope of work to tie the resurfacing directly to the western end of the ongoing Exit 18 improvement work.
According to Gehrt, the original scope of work had an estimated cost of $560,000. Adding an additional 700 linear feet to the project increases the estimated cost to $622,000.
If the cost share is approved, the City of Platte City is expected to be between $280,000 to $320,000.
Gehrt said the city’s amended transportation capital project budget is sufficient to fund the city’s portion of the project within that range.
On Tuesday, Gehrt told The Landmark that latest communication from MoDOT indicates the contractor (Superior Bowen) will start the mill and asphalt overlay within the next two weeks.
“The earliest potential start date is this coming Saturday, June 12, and the latest potential start date is before the end of June,” Gehrt remarked.
If the weather cooperates, the project will be about a four-day job, he said.