Benton County - Three years ago, the Missouri Department of Transportation began a study to determine how to improve a section of Route 65 in Benton County. The study area stretched from south of Route 52, through the city of Lincoln, to south of Route 7 near Warsaw. The study's purpose was to find a way to improve safety and traffic flow on Route 65 and enhance connectivity on the busiest highway in Benton County.

MoDOT has worked with the communities in the area and determined a preferred alternative for improving Route 65. The department now seeks public input on the proposed highway design and will hold an open-house public hearing on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, to discuss the project. The meeting will take place between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Lincoln School cafeteria, 101 West Lamine Street, in Lincoln.

MoDOT plans to widen Route 65 north of Lincoln by constructing two additional lanes to the east of the existing lanes with a 60 foot median. The new lanes would handle northbound traffic and the existing lanes would be reused as the southbound lanes.

Through the city of Lincoln, Route 65 will be widened into a five lane, undivided route, with two northbound lanes, two southbound lanes, and a two-way center turn lane.

South of Lincoln, two additional lanes will be constructed with a 60-foot median. Several transitions will be used to switch between an eastern widening and western widening for the portion of Route 65 south of Lincoln.

No formal presentations will be made during the open-house hearing. The public may attend the hearing at any time during the advertised hours to speak with MoDOT staff about the project. Various displays will be available and the public is encouraged to ask questions and provide input. All comments will be taken into consideration and made part of the project file. Access for the physically disabled will be available.

Maps and other plan details are available for public inspection and copying at the office of Roger Schwartze, MoDOT Central District Engineer, 1511 Missouri Blvd., Jefferson City, Missouri. For additional information about the project or public hearing, please contact the Missouri Department of Transportation toll-free at 888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log on to www.modot.org/central.

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