Groups settle on costs for lake bridge

The MoDOT project known as Option B-10 proposes that a bridge be constructed nearly parallel and just north of the current Lake Taneycomo Bridge.

The new bridge would connect East State Highway 76 with Branson Landing Boulevard and once complete, the older bridge would be closed for up to 12 months while repairs are made.

Chad Zickefoose, MoDOT’s project manager, said district officials met with Taney County commissioners, Hollister City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss and Branson city engineer David Miller to discuss details of a cost-sharing plan to construct the bridge. The cost-sharing application must be submitted to MoDOT by Feb. 28.

The application proposes that MoDOT and the three Taney County governments split the cost of the Option B-10 project 50/50. Springfield Area District engineer Kirk Juranas provided a breakdown of the cost-share project:

• MoDOT – $6.72 million;

• Taney County – $5.1 million;

• city of Branson – $1.5 million; and

• city of Hollister – $132,000.

According to MoDOT officials, MoDOT and Taney County already have committed $8.1 million to rehabilitate the existing bridge, which includes some right-of-way, engineering and inspection costs.

Zickefoose said the organization’s state review committee would competitively evaluate the application March 27. If MoDOT approves the project, Zickefoose said it would be fast-tracked.

”We would start actively designing the plan for the new bridge and roundabout,” he said, noting that construction would possibly begin tentatively at the end of 2009 and finish by the end of 2010. The current bridge would be closed for repairs at the beginning of 2011 and opened by the end of that year.

One Branson building developer in particular is awaiting the results of the Option B-10 project financing request.

Rick Huffman, CEO of HCW Development Co. LLC – in partnership with Robert Plaster of Lebanon-based Evergreen Investments LLC – owns one acre at the Hollister end of the Lake Taneycomo Bridge at the junction of the proposed second bridge.

The property, originally earmarked for a 17-story condominium tower, is now intended for an $18 million scaled-down version of the plan.

Huffman said the company’s architect, Butler, Rosenbury and Partners Inc., has redesigned the building as a five-story condominium tower with an underground parking garage. Huffman said the condominium plan was downsized because preconstruction work “was running the cost too high.”

“We haven’t dropped the project,” he added.

HCW Development also has a 99-year lease agreement with the city of Branson for property located at the proposed junction of the new bridge at Branson Landing Boulevard.

Concerns for traffic flow and the loss of parking space at the Branson Landing are two right-of-way issues Huffman is anxious to address with MoDOT if financing is approved for the proposed bridge project.