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Year/Time |
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Early 1990's |
In the works since the early 1990s, the expansion of Route 60 to a four-lane facility is coming to fruition. This important east-west corridor across southern Missouri had a 82-mile gap from Poplar Bluff to Willow Springs. |
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1992 |
In 1992, work began on environmental impact statements to determine how a four-lane facility should be pursued. |
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Late 1990's |
Construction began in the late 1990s on Route 60 “Between the 21s” and the 4-lane upgrade of the Willow Springs Bypass |
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| 1999 |
In the summer of 1999, grading and paving work began in Carter County from 4.6 miles west of Route 21 South to 1.1 miles east of Route 21 South. The lanes were opened to traffic in the fall of 2001. |
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| 2000 |
With the start of 2000, crews set to work in Carter County from 1.7 miles west of Route 21 North to 4.6 miles west of Route 21 South. This section opened in spring 2003. |
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| 2001 |
Work began on grading, bridge construction and paving from 3.9 miles west of Route 21 North to 1.7 miles west of Route 21 North, in Carter County, in December 2001. That project was complete and open to traffic by Fall 2003. |
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2003 |
In the fall of 2003, work began on the section from 1 mile east of Route 21 in Carter County to South of the Butler County line. This included grading, bridge construction and paving, all of which was complete by December 2005.
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2005 |
May -The first major success was marked in May 2005 during the Gateway to the Ozarks Celebration, when the interchange near Willow Springs opened.
By Fall 2005, the section from Poplar Bluff to Van Buren was complete and traffic was flowing on all four lanes.
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2007 |
In March of 2007, Construction began on the section between Willow Springs and Mountain View
In May the six-mile section of Route 60 through Van Buren, Mo., opened to traffic
Work was seen all across the counties of Howell, Shannon and Carter. Trucks and heavy equipment moved countless yards of dirt, box culverts and bridges were constructed and new pavement was being laid. All phases of construction were visible across all three counties. |
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| 2008 |
Construction resumed with the arrival of warm weather. Activity can again be seen across all three counties. The entire corridor cam under contract in February allowing MoDOT to announce plans for an early completion- by the end of 2009. From paving on the west end to the five-lane section through Mountain View and excavation in Shannon County, citizens are seeing rapid progress. |
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2010 |
MoDOT has committed to closing the 59-mile gap by the spring of 2010. The 82-mile gap was reduced to 59 miles by 2005. By the spring of 2010, this remaining stretch of two lanes will become four. This accomplishment will be a testament to the progressive attitude of a rural region.
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