Highway FF Interchange Moves Into County’s Priority List

The Crawford County Commission voted in October to place an interchange on Highway FF as one of its top transportation priorities.

The interchange has been discussed off and on since 2011 and the commission — namely District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast — has tried to keep it on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s radar.

The commission sees the project as a way to alleviate issues with trucks coming out from the quarry on Highway FF and driving to Menards.

Due to recent weight restrictions implemented by Oak Grove village, trucks use the outer roads to drive into Sullivan, travel to Stanton and drive back towards the plant.

Setting up an interchange would eliminate trucks having to travel up and down the outer roads.

The intersection of the overpass and South Outer Road also features a significant accident history, which MoDOT takes into account when assessing a project.

Funding would have to be a cost share between state, county, industry and West Sullivan.

Boast said Tuesday that he has divested himself of the property that sits near the overpass and North Outer Road.

Other properties would be affected if a deal comes along, including Meramec Valley Baptist Church.

The service roads also would have to be re-routed. A small cemetery exists near the South Outer Road that would have to be taken into consideration during the planning phase.

The project is still potentially years away and remains a long shot.

In 2019, MoDOT’s Prestron Kramer said the initial cost in 2011 was around $20 million.

Kramer has said during past transportation priority meetings that he felt the project was worthwhile, but there were multiple steps involved, including approval from the federal government.

Other Projects

The county continues to list a bridge on Highway HH over Dry Creek as its top priority.

The bridge, located south of Cherryville, is in “serious” condition.

Commissioners also kept the intersection of Highway 19 and Lindburg Road second on the list.

With a significant accident history, there is  a need for a turn lane.

Kramer said in 2019 the cost could range between $250,000 to $300,000 due to right-of-way acquisition and relocation of utilities.

The county dropped the intersection of Highway D and Sappington Bridge Road near Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital.

A roundabout was in discussion, but Boast said that it was no longer a desirable option.