Branson board approves CMT for downtown project

The Branson Board of Aldermen last night voted to finalize a contract with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc. to perform the engineering work for a nearly $5 million downtown streetscape revitalization project.

CMT, a Springfield, Ill.-based consultant engineering firm that operates an office in Springfield, was selected in October, beating out Vireo, which operates offices in Kansas City and Omaha, Neb., and St. Louis-based Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets Inc..

Branson Economic Development Director Garrett Anderson told Springfield Business Journal in October CMT's local office played a key role in the firm's selection.

The initial phase of the contract, expected to take seven months, includes analyses of parking, branding, way-finding, pedestrian access, drainage and construction phasing. Construction plans would then be prepared for 2014, according to a news release.

CMT's plan includes connecting guests at Branson Landing and Lake Taneycomo to the downtown area.