OPEN HOUSE SET MONDAY, MARCH 10 IN PLATTE CITY
An unveiling of the latest plans for widening a section of Hwy. 92 east of I-29 will happen on Monday, March 10 at City Hall in Platte City.
This will be the second open house held in regard to the planned improvements, which call for widening the highway to four lanes in a 1.3 mile stretch from Chapel Drive east to Bethel Road.
There will be no formal presentations, but participants may attend the hearing at any time between 4-6 p.m. on March 10.
Comments will be accepted in the form of a written statement or providing an oral recorded statement.
At the first open house in early December, some residents and property owners were disappointed in the limited number of left hand turns allowed due to the preliminary design, which calls for a concrete center median.
At the follow-up open house, the Missouri Department of Transportation and Great River Engineering–which is the City of Platte City’s engineer for the project–will share alterations to the original design.
The updated design plan is anticipated to “incorporate many of the public comments and suggestions brought forth during and following the Dec. 4 open house,” a Facebook post by the City of Platte City says.
“We have modified the corridor to add two roundabouts so that it’s easier for people to access those businesses and homes,” Lindsey Chaffin with Great River Engineering told The Landmark in an email received on Feb. 11.
Chaffin did not respond to a follow-up question asking the exact location of the planned roundabouts.
If the roundabouts are added, it is not clear what impact that may have on the planned budget for the project. At last report, the project had an estimated cost of $20 million.
Officials have said preliminary design, easements and right of way acquisition are expected to begin in early 2025. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025 and is expected to take about one year for completion.
As one example of the limited left hand turns in the initial design, 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.
In the initial design shown in December, the following intersections provided full access, allowing both left and right turns in and out:
*Chapel Drive.
*Platte International Commerce Center and Budget Rental.
*Platte International Commerce Center and Windmill Drive.
*The planned Nelly Hills subdivision and the Aberdeen residential development.
PROJECT FUNDING
The 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 the project. The city sees the project as essential to growth.
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.
Officials have said 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 in early plans have included curb and gutter, storm sewers, a concrete median, a five foot sidewalk and a 10-foot shared-use path.
Chaffin told The Landmark at the previous open house that a 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, which she said would further improve safety along the corridor.
It was noted at the December open house that improvements to the Bethel Road/Hwy. 92 intersection will include realignment of the skewed intersection to provide safer traffic movements.
