Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES—The Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), meeting June 8 at MRPC, prioritized 11 projects for the Off-System Regional Bridge Program, also known as the BRO program. 

All of the bridges submitted for consideration are on the local road system (city or county) and are in poor condition per MoDOT inspection standards. Previously, counties were allocated funds for derelict BRO bridges, and it usually took three to four years for a county to accumulate enough dollars and the 20 percent match to replace a bridge. Now the money is pooled at the MoDOT district level and allocated by regional planning officials and local representatives selected by the TAC. MoDOT accepted applications for the top priority bridges by each eligible county, and all submitted applications from the Meramec Region’s cities and counties were reviewed and ranked by the TAC. 

The 11 bridge projects evaluated and ranked in descending order were: 

1. High Point Road bridge over Brush Creek in Crawford County;

2. Osage County Road 611 bridge over Maries River in Osage County;

3. Rohlfing Road bridge over Little Berger Creek in Gasconade County;

4. Phelps County Road 2110 bridge over Branch Spring Creek in Phelps County;

4. Rosebud Road bridge over Snake Creek in Pulaski County;

6. Ruskaup Road bridge over Second Creek in Gasconade County;

6. Floyd Tower Road bridge over Fourche Renault Creek in Washington County;

8. Four Mile Road bridge over Brush Creek and Please Valley Creek in Crawford County;

9. Osage County Road 522 bridge over CR521/Hwy P in Osage County;

10. Riverside Road bridge over the Gasconade River in Pulaski County; and

11. Gildea Road bridge over Clear Creek in Washington County.

Dent County has no poorly rated local bridges, per MoDOT standards. Maries County had submitted two applications; however, Maries County Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman withdrew them from evaluation due to the availability of matching funds. 

The prioritized list was presented to the MRPC board at its meeting, later in the evening, and was approved. 

These priorities will be submitted to MoDOT for consideration in its planning work. In July, MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge and Osage County Commissioner and TAC member Larry Kliethermes will meet with other planning partners in MoDOT’s Central District to determine projects to be funded. Kim Tipton with MoDOT told TAC members that grant requests exceed funds available by about $8 million so there will be some tough decisions to make. 

For more information, please contact Anne Freand, MRPC planning department manager, via email at afreand@meramecregion.org or via phone at 573-265-2993 ext. 105.

Additionally, during the meeting:

• Approved the FY2024 MoDOT Workplan; 
• Heard a report on the draft documents for the Active Living Community of Practice Plans completed for the communities of Belle, Bland and Rosebud. These communities are located along the Rock Island Trail, now a state park, and the plans address active transportation connections to the trail; and
• Heard from MoDOT Central District Engineer Preston Kramer about several ongoing projects in the region and the status of their completion.

Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. The group will meet again at 4 p.m. Aug. 10 at MRPC, 4 Industrial Dr., St. James. Meetings are open to the public. 

The Meramec Region TAC is chaired by Darin Pryor of Rolla/Phelps County. 

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Mary Heywood, representing the unemployed, serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 33 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.orgor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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Cutline: Meramec Region Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Chairman Darin Pryor listens as MoDOT Central District Meramec Area Engineer Preston Kramer gives an update on current and upcoming construction projects at the June 8 TAC meeting.