Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chair Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) says the “votes weren’t there” in the Senate last week to override any of the 14 budget bills overridden by the GOP-controlled Missouri House. That included restoration of $1.4 million for Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One and $2-million for Missouri National Guard reenlistment incentives. The Senate did not take up any of the overrides last week, and Chairman Hough tells listeners that it’s simple and involves math. Overriding a veto in the Senate requires at least 23 votes. He also praises the approximately $50-billion budget signed recently by Governor Parson, noting it contains $2.8 billion to rebuild and expand I-70 to six lanes from Wentzville to Blue Springs and another $300-million for a new mental health hospital in Kansas City. Chairman Hough also addressed the spending criticism he received last week on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” from one of his colleagues, State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring):
MoDOT to hold informational meeting this evening in Boonville on I-70 expansion plan
Mid-Missourians have another opportunity this evening to learn more about Missouri’s $2.8 billion I-70 expansion plan.
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will hold an open house style meeting from 5-7 pm at Boonville’s Hannah Cole school gymnasium, which is located on West Ashley road. MoDOT engineers will be on-hand to answer your questions.
Governor Mike Parson has signed bipartisan legislation into law providing the funding. The money will be used to plan, build, rebuild and expand I-70 to three lanes in each direction from Blue Springs to Wentzville. There will be no formal presentation today, so you can arrive anytime between 5-7.
MoDOT held a similar meeting at Columbia’s Battle high school on Wednesday. State transportation officials tell 939 the Eagle that they’re doing everything they can to avoid taking property for the project.
MoDOT to hold informational meeting this evening in Boonville on I-70 expansion plan
Mid-Missourians have another opportunity this evening to learn more about Missouri’s $2.8 billion I-70 expansion plan.
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will hold an open house style meeting from 5-7 pm at Boonville’s Hannah Cole school gymnasium, which is located on West Ashley road. MoDOT engineers will be on-hand to answer your questions.
Governor Mike Parson has signed bipartisan legislation into law providing the funding. The money will be used to plan, build, rebuild and expand I-70 to three lanes in each direction from Blue Springs to Wentzville. There will be no formal presentation today, so you can arrive anytime between 5-7.
MoDOT held a similar meeting at Columbia’s Battle high school on Wednesday. State transportation officials tell 939 the Eagle that they’re doing everything they can to avoid taking property for the project.
(LISTEN): MoDOT expecting big turnout at this evening’s I-70 informational meeting in Columbia
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is encouraging you to attend today’s informational meeting in Columbia about Missouri’s massive $2.8 billion I-70 expansion plan.
The open house style meeting will take place from 5-7 pm at Battle high school on St. Charles road. MoDOT I-70 director Eric Kopinski joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”
“These meetings that we’re holding around the state at seven locations, they’re meant to set the baseline. So anybody from the public that wants to know what information we know at this time, we don’t have all the answers. But we do want to share what information we do have as we quickly launch this project into construction,” Kopinski tells listeners.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) has signed bipartisan legislation into law providing the funding. The money will be used to plan, design, build, rebuild and expand I-70 to three lanes in each direction from Wentzville to Blue Springs, which is about 200 miles. MoDOT will NOT be making a formal presentation today, so you can arrive anytime between 5 and 7 at Battle high school.
Several 939 the Eagle listeners have asked about the Bob Evans, Steak ‘n Shake and Mark’s Mobile Glass near Columbia’s I-70 and Highway 63 interchange. We asked Mr. Kopinski about those locations during the live interview.
“And we have yet to know those answers if those businesses are going to be acquired with this project. But we’re doing everything we can to avoid buying businesses and property, because any dollar spent on relocating utilities or buying buildings or property is less money that we can spend making critical infrastructure improvements,” says Kopinski.
MoDOT also plans a similar meeting for tomorrow evening from 5-7 at Boonville’s Hannah Cole school primary gymnasium. You can listen to the full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with Mr. Kopinski here.
(LISTEN): MoDOT I-70 director Eric Kopinski appears on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Department of Transportation (MoDOT) officials want your feedback on I-70’s current condition in Missouri and on construction staging ahead of the massive $2.8 billion expansion project. MoDOT will hold an open house style informational meeting Wednesday evening from 5-7 at Columbia’s Battle high school, where engineers will be on-hand. There will be no formal presentation, so you can arrive anytime in that timeframe. Governor Mike Parson signed the bipartisan bill in August providing funding for the project, which will make I-70 six lanes from Wentzville to Blue Springs. Governor Parson notes the project will start in Columbia. MoDOT I-70 director Eric Kopinski joined us live this morning on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to discuss tomorrow’s meeting and the massive project. He emphasizes MoDOT is taking as few properties as possible and that they have lots of right-of-way: