U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Capitol Hill. He represents 39 counties across northern Missouri, representing Audrain and Randolph counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area. One of the biggest issues he’s also been involved in is trying to obtain federal funding to help replace Jefferson City’s aging tri-level. The tri-level bridges were built in 1964. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says rebuilding the tri-level will cost about $40-million, adding that the nearby Rex Whitton Expressway would also have to be rebuilt for an additional $53-million. While Congressman Graves has been hopeful of finding some intrastate highway dollars for the project, he tells listeners that he’s not as optimistic as he was. However, Chairman Graves tells listeners that it’s still in the works and that he’s still working on the process. Congressman Graves, a Mizzou graduate, also predicts Mizzou will beat Tennessee in Saturday afternoon’s top 20 showdown in Columbia:
(LISTEN): State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) and Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater appear on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Powerful U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), who chairs the U.S. House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill, is trying to obtain federal funding to try to replace Jefferson City’s aging tri-level. He’s told 939 the Eagle that he’s had conversations with Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s office about the project. State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) and Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” Both remain hopeful that that it can happen. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says 86,000 vehicles a day come through the tri-level area, with three major highways converging in the same area. MoDOT says the tri-level bridges were built in 1964 and that the “flyover” bridges were built in 1991. They also previewed Missouri’s 2024 legislative session and Senator Bernskoetter corrected reports that he was involved in a recent crash. Senator Bernskoetter notes it was a different Mike Bernskoetter, and he’s critical of a Facebook group that he says is not affiliated with the Cole County Republican Club:
(LISTEN): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) discusses 2024 presidential race and Jefferson City’s aging tri-level on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
An east-central Missouri congressman who represents Jefferson City, Fulton, Boonville and parts of Columbia on Capitol Hill doesn’t expect President Joe Biden to seek re-election in 2024. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that President Biden has virtually no ground game, and questions if he’s electable in 2024. Congressman Luetkemeyer also addressed an issue that’s been a big topic in Jefferson City: the aging tri-level. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells listeners that he appreciates the efforts of House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) to obtain federal funding for the project. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that he’s had conversations with Governor Parson’s office about the project:
(LISTEN): Efforts underway to try to obtain federal funding for Jefferson City tri-level project
A powerful northern Missouri congressman who chairs the U.S. House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill is trying to obtain federal funding to help replace Jefferson City’s aging tri-level.
U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) tells 939 the Eagle that he’s had conversations with Governor Mike Parson’s office about the project.
“Maybe some intrastate highway dollars that are out there. And that’s dollars specific to goods and services that pass from one state to the next on our federal highway system,” Congressman Graves says.
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says rebuilding the tri-level will cost about $40-million, adding that the nearby Rex Whitton Expressway would also have to be rebuilt. That’s an additional $53-million. MoDOT central district engineer Michelle Watkins told “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” last week that MoDOT currently doesn’t have the funding for the two projects.
“It’s possible we might be able to make that work there too. But anyway we’re talking to the governor’s office about what the potential opportunities are,” Graves says, referring to intrastate highway dollars.
MoDOT says 86,000 vehicles a day come through the tri-level area, with three major highways converging in the same area. MoDOT says the tri-level bridges were built in 1964 and that the “flyover” bridges were built in 1991.
(LISTEN): MoDOT currently lacks funding for multi-million dollar tri-level project in Jefferson City
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says it will take at least $90-million to redesign and replace Jefferson City’s aging tri-level and a nearby expressway.
MoDOT central district engineer Michelle Watkins tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the location would have to be studied in-detail.
“We estimate in the high-priority unfunded needs list that an improvement there would be at least $40-million. And that location has another need right next to it identified in the document, and that’s the Rex Whitton Expressway. You’d have to sort of look at those together to be sure that they would work and function well together,” Watkins says.
Ms. Watkins tells listeners that the Whitton Expressway project would cost about $53-million. She describes replacing the tri-level as a large-scale need that’s complex.
“You’ve got three major highways converging in basically the same area. You got about 86,000 vehicles a day coming through that general area. And it’s right up against a river (Missouri River), and it’s in the heart of Jefferson City,” says Watkins.
She says there are a number of businesses and development in the area as well.
Governor Mike Parson has called on MoDOT to consider redesigning that interchange, after this month’s tractor trailer crash and fuel spill that closed busy southbound Highway 54 for five hours. MoDOT says the tri-level bridges were built in 1964 and that the “flyover” bridges were built in 1991.