County planning considers road extension for 60/65 project

At the Greene County Planning Board's meeting Tuesday, board members will consider amending the county's long-range road plans to include a new major street to accommodate a 600-acre planned development at U.S. Highways 60 and 65.

The board will consider an amendment to the Major Thoroughfare Plan, the county's tool for planning future road needs and transportation infrastructure, according to a county news release.

The plan is to extend Farm Road 170 east of Springfield, between U.S. 65 and State Highway J, as a primary arterial road. According to previous Springfield Business Journal coverage, that road would serve as an entry point to the planned 60/65 development, including an interchange with U.S. 65.

Architect Geoffrey Butler of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners and real estate agent Rob Murray III of R.B. Murray Co. said in early 2009 that the Missouri Department of Transportation had already given initial approval to an interchange, since the plans coincide with MoDOT's plans to add another lane to the highway.

The $400 million development, dubbed Crossroads at 60/65, calls for a combination of retail, residential, ministorage, senior housing and hotel uses.