Federal money announced for I-44, U.S. 65 interchange

U. S. Sen. Kit Bond announced June 6 that the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration will send Missouri nearly $2 million in federal funds for the Interstate 44 and U.S. Highway 65 interchange.

Bond, a senior member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, secured the $1,987,000 for the interchange in the fiscal year 2003 Transportation Appropriations Bill.

The project will improve the crossroads for traffic entering and leaving the region on two major corridors.

The interchange also is a major access point for almost 5 million tourists commuting to the Branson area.

The money will be used for the first phase of the project, according to Missouri Department of Transportation spokesperson Bob Edwards.

The first phase will include a "fly over" ramp from northbound Highway 65 to westbound I-44 and some improvements on two of the other ramps to make the project work, Edwards added.

The first phase, which is scheduled to begin in 2008, will cost an estimated $20 million, Edwards said.

"The I-44 and U.S. 65 interchange is vital to the region's economy, and I'm proud I was able to secure these funds for the project," Bond said. "These dollars will not only strengthen the economy, especially for southwest Missouri's truckers and the tourism industry, but will also make travel safer for everyone."

Added U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, "Improving road conditions is vital to job creation and economic growth in southwest Missouri. I will continue to work with Sen. Bond to deliver a robust highway bill for Missouri and to bring additional transportation infrastructure dollars to the state as we work to pass a pro-jobs, pro-growth agenda for Missouri in the Senate."