City Council considers Chestnut, I-44 redesign

With Springfield-Branson Regional Airport terminal designs moving swiftly, Springfield transportation officials are designing the road to access the new facility.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, Springfield City Council heard a proposal to enter into a cost participation agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Comm-ission for the design costs to relocate Route 266, which becomes Chestnut Expressway once it enters Springfield, to accommodate the new terminal.
City Manager Tom Finnie said the project needs to be approved soon if it’s to be ready for the new airport terminal.
“These things don’t get built overnight,” Finnie said. “There’s almost as big a lead time on the road as there is for the project itself.”
The $1.4 million design cost for the road project would be paid for by a loan from the state, which would then be repaid from federal funds for which the project would be eligible.
City Public Works Director Marc Thornsberry said the plans involve some major changes to Chestnut Expressway and Interstate 44.
“There’s going to be some work on the (I-44) interchange – it’s currently a tight cloverleaf design, and the plans are to modify it to a diamond design to get rid of that cloverleaf,” he said. “Then (Chestnut Expressway) will have a freeway design out to a future interchange.”
That future interchange would be the only access road to the airport terminal. That limited-access design is for a number of reasons, including safety for traffic and greater ease of security.
Thornsberry said the work is part of a critical step in making Springfield more attractive to travelers.
“We want to position ourselves in the community to have a facility that can serve the region, and I think the intent is more connecting flights and cheaper rates,” he said. “You’ve got to have the facility to be able to attract that, and I think a critical aspect of that is access.”

Harrison Stadium
The council heard a proposal to install new storm and sanitary sewers in connection with the renovation of center city’s Harrison Stadium.
Raymond E. Worley III, vice president for administrative affairs for Drury University, said the renovation process on the stadium has already begun.
“We have removed the north wall so we can expand the stadium to the north,” he said. “We will have the space necessary to have a regulation soccer and football field and a six-lane track surrounding that. We anticipate that will be done this summer, in time for Central High School football and Drury Panther soccer seasons.”
The university is serving as general contractor on the project and coordinating with architect John Oke-Thomas on the $1.7 million renovation.
The stadium will continue to function under a shared-use agreement with Springfield Public Schools.

In other council action:
• Council approved the request to transfer the former Missouri Farmers Association property to Southwest Missouri State University. The property will be used to build the new Jordan Valley Innovation Center. Phelps Street is the dividing line for the property; the university will control the property north of Phelps, while the city will retain control of the property south of the street.
• The rezoning request for Pythian Castle, 1451 E. Pythian St., was approved. The building, originally built in 1915, is currently being used as a residence and a business. Owner Tamara Finocchiaro plans to use the building for a variety of businesses, including a dance hall, theater and a bed and breakfast facility. It also will be available for private parties.
The council also approved an agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission to widen Route 160. Construction on the project, which will widen the road between Chestnut Expressway and Kearney Street to five lanes, is scheduled to begin late this year and be completed in 2007. The cost of the project – approximately $10 million – will be paid by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
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