Ribbon cutting scheduled to celebrate completion of widening of Connecticut Avenue

(From the City of Joplin)

City officials will gather with Joplin Public Works staff, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and the public to celebrate the completion of the widening project of South Connecticut Avenue.

The Ribbon Cutting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, near 36th Street and Connecticut Avenue. Please park on Finley Avenue, just east of Connecticut.

 

This was the final phase of the Connecticut Widening Program which originally started near Campbell Parkway and St. Louis Avenue and finished at 44th Street. This last phase widened the north/south corridor to a 5-lane roadway with curb and gutter from 32nd Street to the I-44 bridge, adding a dual-use 10-foot-wide sidewalk/bike trail on the west side of the roadway and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of the roadway. This last phase also included the construction of the bridge over I-44. As a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) project, the City partnered with them and provided a substantial amount of Capital Improvement Sales Tax funds towards the construction of this bridge that ties the southernmost end of Connecticut to this improved corridor.

This project was included in the 3/8 cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax approved by voters in August 2014. D & E Plumbing and Heating, Inc. was the contractor for the $3.8 million project.

The overall Connecticut widening project from 10th Street to 44th Street expanded a 2.7-mile stretch of two-lane roadway into a five-lane thoroughfare, improving traffic capacity and safety. A key element of the project was the construction of a new railroad overpass near 26th Street to enhance traffic flow and provide a safer driving experience. 

The project was completed in stages to allow for the gradual accumulation of sales tax revenues which funded the improvements as work moved south. The first phase began near Campbell Parkway in 2005, showcasing a commitment to infrastructure development and long-term regional growth.

Stormwater improvements were also completed in the area west of Connecticut during this recent project using Parks and Stormwater Sales Tax revenues.