Wildwood Drive Extension
The recently completed Wildwood Drive Extension has opened up a new corridor for growth and expansion. Residents in the southwest part of the county near Jefferson City will have a shorter commute to work and easier access to retail shopping and other services. Additionally emergency service response times are faster and more efficient to this part of town.
Projects like this are made possible through collaboration and the voter-approved capital improvement sales tax, allowing both governments to stretch resources and plan for long-term community needs.
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Lakewood
Ten stormwater improvements projects have been completed in this cycle like this one in the Lakewood Subdivision. The county upgrades the stormwater system of inlets and pipes when needed in a residential subdivision prior to an asphalt overlay. This Lakewood Road and the side roads connecting to it will be overlayed this year. This proactive planning will ensure a longer pavement life.
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Tanner Bridge Road
On Tanner Bridge Road, the bridge over the Moreau River which was built in 1962 is at the end of its serviceable life. A new bridge in currently under contract for replacement and will be completed by the end of 2026. Along with a new bridge, the roadway leading to the bridge will be realigned on the north side and raised above flood waters on the south side. This project will greatly improve safety for motorists..
Viaduct
Due to increasing regulatory requirements, extended timelines for major projects and rising costs due to inflation, a 5 year tax sunset makes it more difficult to plan ahead in the most cost-effective manner possible. Every dollar of your money is hard earned, and it is the county’s responsibility to spend those dollars efficiently. By extending the sunset period of this tax from 5 years to 10 years, the county can take a longer view of the infrastructure needs and leverage this advantage into more cost savings.
For example, the High Street Viaduct bridge was built in the late 1940’s and provides a vital east/west connection to downtown. It is structurally deficient and in need of replacement in the near future. A project to replace this bridge will be the larger than any previous project the city and county have completed. This is the kind of project that can be planned, budgeted for and completed more cost effectively with a longer sunset. At the same time, confidence in local government is extremely important, and keeping this sunset in place allows you, the taxpayer, to have the final say when it comes to the services provided by the County. This is a “win-win” for Cole County.
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