Randolph County Commission discusses status of Highway 3 after two-year closure
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
On Monday, the Randolph County Commission held a meeting to discuss the status of Highway 3 after its closure.
In 2021, MoDOT closed Missouri Route 3 between Route 24 and Route BB due to oversaturated ground and a potential road slide.
The road realignment project is yet to be under contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation.
One Randolph County resident told ABC 17 News that this closure affects a lot of major traffic in the area. "After the unfortunate incident at the Rock Quarry now we take this state blacktop, BB and D, and all of the rock trucks are tearing it up," Wayne Knutson said. "I mean it's dangerous for sure."
Knutson as well as other residents in attendance at the meeting on Monday night expressed their concern with the danger drivers face due to large trucks being detoured to rural Highways BB, B and D.
Missouri State Senator Cindy O'Laughlin was in attendance at the meeting and said rural areas like this are largely overlooked.
"For two years now, they haven't been able to use that road, which is a major, north-south highway, so now they have to cut through the country. They have tore all those roads up," O'Laughlin said.
MoDOT Engineer, Paula Gough updated ABC 17 News with the progress MoDOT has made so far to reopen Highway 3.
"We are still working through the right of way acquisition process and then once that is secure, we will be able to put the project out for bid," Gough said.
According to Gough, after putting in the bid to start construction on Highway 3, it will still take some time to ensure it's safety and reopen the roads.
