FOUR LANES PLANNED FROM I-29 TO BETHEL ROAD
A project with a $20 million budget will expand a stretch of Hwy. 92 east of Interstate 29 from two lanes to four lanes.
The eventual four-lane stretch will run approximately 1.3 miles, beginning at the recent improvements near the I-29 intersection and extending east to Bethel Road.
Preliminary design and easements and right of way acquisition begin in early 2025. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025 and is expected to take about one year for completion.
City of Platte City has been a leader in working for the project, with city officials, in particular former city administrator DJ Gehrt, spearheading the effort to put together joint funding to cover costs of a project the city sees as essential to growth.
Officials say the goal is to accommodate the growing industrial and residential developments in that area by transforming the existing two-lane highway into a four-lane highway.
The improvements will include curb and gutter, storm sewers, a concrete median, a five foot sidewalk and a 10-foot shared-use path.
Lindsey Chaffin with Great River Engineering told The Landmark at an open house last week that the five foot wide sidewalk will be on the south side of the highway. The 10-foot shared-use trail will be on the north side, running from the start of the project east to the Timber Creek residential subdivision.
Chaffin said the roadway’s vertical alignment will be adjusted to enhance sight distances, further improving safety along the corridor.
Additionally, improvements to the Bethel Road/Hwy. 92 intersection will include realignment of the skewed intersection to provide safer traffic movements.
Earlier discussions had included the possibility of building a roundabout at the Hwy. 92/Bethel Road intersection but that idea was scrapped due to the potential cost, reported to be an additional $6 million or more.
PROPERTY ACCESS
During construction, access to local businesses and residences will be maintained, Chaffin said.
She said a phased traffic control plan will be implemented, shifting traffic as improvements progress.
One point of concern for some property owners on the south side of the project is that upon completion, left-hand turns will be limited along the corridor. For example, motorists leaving the Jackson Animal Clinic who want to head west toward I-29 will first need to go east and make a U-turn at the nearest possible intersection.
The following intersections will provide full access, allowing both left and right turns in and out:
*Chapel Drive.
*Platte International Commerce Center & Budget Rental.
*Platte International Commerce Center & Windmill Drive.
*The planned Nelly Hills subdivision and the Aberdeen residential development.
BUDGET AND FUNDING
The project budget of $20 million covers design, construction, utility relocation, and right-of-way acquisition. Initial funding includes $11 million from a Governor’s Cost Share Grant and Surface and Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding administered through Mid America Regional Council (MARC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
Additional contributions have been provided by Platte County, the City of Platte City, the Platte City Special Road District, and adjacent developers, which makes this major project a collaborative effort.
An open house public hearing was held on Dec. 4 at City Hall in Platte City to provide an opportunity for the public to view exhibits showcasing the planned improvements. City officials and members of the engineering design team were available to discuss the project and answer questions.
Chaffin told The Landmark this is the first time Great River Engineering has worked with the City of Platte City and the firm is “excited about the opportunity and the project.”
Electronic files of project information and materials can be found on the web at gre.egnyte.com/fl/I3NHqylxBC.
