The Avenue of the Saints, a 550-mile four-lane highway, is open! Connecting St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the final section opened July 25 following a ceremony in Clark County, MO. Several pictures are available online, and we'll be adding more. A big "thank you" goes to the communities that participated in the whistle stops, the SMART group for their role in moving the project forward, the Tri-State Development Summit for their support, the MoDOT Team for their efforts, Senator Kit Bond and Congressman Kenny Hulshof for earmarks on the project, and Bross Construction for getting the road open immediately following the ceremony.
A special thank you goes to Tom Boland and Tom Oakley, both of whom made the entire trip along the Avenue on July 25. Mr. Boland, Mr. Oakley, and Don Carmody, former Iowa DOT Commissioner, emceed the event. Others making the entire trip included Rachel McCombs, representative of Senator Christopher Bond's office, Patti Meldrum of SMART and the Canton community, and Dave Silvester, MoDOT's Assistant District Engineer.
The Lewis Street Playhouse was the site for the first whistle stop and tribute to the SMART group.
Jeff McReynolds, SMART advisor, recognizes the efforts of the now young adults sitting behind him.
Some of the SMART group who attended the tribute event at the Lewis Street Playhouse in Canton.
MoDOT team members directed parking and helped with set up for the event.
An audience of about 200 spent the morning listening to tributes of those who contributed to the project.
The Ayer-Boatman Post 4342 out of Kahoka posted the colors for the event.
Scott Callicott, Northern Regional Director for Congressman Kenny Hulshof, and Patti Meldrum, local transportation advocate and advisor of the SMART group, take time ceremony morning to smile.
Elsa Scott, daughter of Mike and Sue Scott, of Kahoka, beautifully sang the National Anthem while the colors were posted.
All the dignitaries on stage were given a pair of scissors and on Tom Boland's count of 1-2-3, cut the ribbon, followed by a balloon release and fireworks.
Every vehicle in the caravan displayed an "Avenue of the Saints" window flag to show participation.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, about 30 cars began a caravan along the Avenue to whistle stops. The first stop was LaGrange.
City of Moscow Mills Mayor Mike Clynch is presented with the "Saints" designation by MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Dave Silvester at the final whistle stop in Moscow Mills.
