Public meeting planned to discuss Route 171 bridge near Joplin

(From MODOT)

Public Meeting April 7 Will Outline
New Route 171 Bridge near Joplin

A public meeting to discuss a project to build a new bridge on Missouri Route 171 northwest of Joplin is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, in Joplin, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

The in-person meeting will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Joplin Public Training Center, 5501 Dennis Weaver Drive. The online information will be posted Thursday afternoon.

The bridge is located northwest of Joplin at Center Creek. It was originally built in 1955 and has outlived its 50-year design life and is a continuous maintenance issue.

The plans for the project also will be posted to an online public meeting atwww.modot.org/southwest.

Viewing Plans

The in-person public meeting is open-house style. Visitors will be able come and go any time during the two hours to examine plans, talk individually with MoDOT engineers and submit comments. No formal presentation will be made.

The online public meeting will contain the same information and access to plans. Visitors online can submit comments or questions via email.

The Project

A new wider bridge will replace the current one on the existing roadway and will be able to handle increased traffic through the area since its construction in 1955.

Route 171 will be closed for up to 140 calendar days while the new bridge is under construction. A roughly seven mile signed detour will use Route 43 and Route 96.

The estimated cost of the project is $2.8 million dollars. MoDOT will seek bids in the fall of 2016, with construction in 2017.



For more information, call MoDOT at 417-895-7600 or visit modot.org/southwest.