Watch new videos, see new pictures of work on Route 36!

MACON (Dec. 22, 2009) - Another section of Route 36 opened to traffic –12 miles from Macon to Clarence, including the Clarence interchange. This opening gets us one step closer to realizing a four-lane corridor across the entire state of Missouri.  The opening of this section means the entire project from Hannibal to Macon has now reached the 80% completion mark. 

The opening went well according to Resident Engineer Jeff Gander. “We had everything in place and when we began switching traffic onto the new lanes motorists did a good job driving slow and using caution.” Gander wants to remind motorist it will take awhile for everyone to adjust to the new traffic patterns. Additionally there are still several work zones along this corridor so drivers need to continue safe driving practices.

The contractor also continues to move forward with construction from Clarence to Shelbina. The concrete mainline paving is complete to Lentner, but will likely not resume until spring.  The deck of the Route 36 Bridge over Route FF has been placed and the bridge is nearing completion. All major grading on this section is complete. 

As with each milestone reached on the project, MoDOT continues to thank taxpayers in Marion, Monroe, Shelby and Macon counties for contributing funding to this project. The section east of Shelbina is planned to open next spring and the entire corridor completed by July 2010.

Link to new photos:

http://www.modot.mo.gov/northcentral/hwy36expansion/newsupdates.htm

Latest Updates:

Shelbina to Monroe City:

Updated: 01/12/10

• Shelby County area – 85% complete
  Project is inactive until spring. Approximately 30 miles of the project remain two lane from just west of Monroe City to Clarence. Crews have suspended work due to frozen subgrade; major activity is shoulder paving as weather and ground conditions allow. County Road 486 is open, however crossover is still closed; County Road 491 remains closed. The westbound on/off ramps at Routes 36/15 at Shelbina remain closed off while the contractor builds and paves a portion of the new highway, rebuilding part of the ramps, and tie it in to the existing highway. Motorists driving west will be directed to take the first Shelbina exit to access Route 15 north and south. Detours clearly signed.
  
  
• Marion County area – 90% complete
  Project is inactive until spring. Crews have suspended work due to frozen subgrade; major activity is shoulder paving as weather and ground conditions allow. Traffic diverted to the eastbound lanes near Monroe City. Speed Limit at various locations in this area are 35 mph and 45 mph where posted.
  18.3 miles of roadway
  
  
• Open to Traffic: July 1, 2010
  
  
• Monroe City to Hunnewell – New westbound lanes
  
  
• Progressive Contractors, Inc., St. Michael, MN
  
  
• Award Cost $22,847,487.81

Macon to Shelbina:

Updated 1-12-10

• Macon/Shelby County area - 73% complete
  The new lanes between Macon and Clarence are open to traffic. The contractor also continues to move forward with construction from Clarence to Shelbina as well. The concrete mainline paving is complete to Lentner and will likely not resume until spring. The deck of the Route 36 Bridge over Route FF has been placed and the bridge is nearing completion. All major grading on this section is complete.
  
• 22.5 miles of roadway
  
  
• Open to Traffic: July 1, 2010
  
  
• Completion Date: September 2010
  
  
• Four new lanes will be built around the Hodgin Heights subdivision at Clarence.
  
  
• The bridge on Route 151 over Route 36 at Clarence has reopened to traffic.
  
  
• The "Cardinal Connector" was specially designed to allow safe access to and from S. Shelby High School at Route FF.
  
  
• Macon to Clarence – to be built on south side.
  
  
• Clarence to Shelbina – to be built on north side.
  
  
• Chester Bross Construction, Hannibal, MO.
  
  
• Award Cost $32,109,273.54

MoDOT thanks taxpayers in Marion, Monroe, Shelby and Macon Counties who passed a one-half cent, 15-year sales tax in 2006 to fund half of the entire project’s cost. Without their support we would not be gaining this important upgrade to the US 36 corridor.