MACON – After voter approval to extend the City of Kirkville’s economic development tax to help fund another major project on the Route 63 corridor, MoDOT plans to recommend the Alternate Route 63 project be included in the departments 2009 – 2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).

MoDOT is currently working to prioritize projects across the state to be included in the five-year plan, therefore the timing is perfect to add the Alternate Route 63 project into the next five-year cycle.

The draft STIP will be recommended to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in May and then available for public review and comment. The final plan will be placed before the Commission for approval in July.

“I am not at all surprised that the citizens of Kirksville stepped up to the plate once again to help fund another major project to improve the Route 63 corridor,” said MoDOT District Engineer Dan Niec. “This community is very progressive and realizes that major transportation investments bring positive change to their community and to the state of Missouri.”

The Alternate Route project will provide an 8.5-mile two-lane roadway to the east of Kirksville to alleviate congestion and reduce accidents on Baltimore Street and to promote connectivity and economic development for the region. Construction of the project could begin as early as 2010.

For more information, contact the MoDOT District 2 Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). The center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.