Columbia city leaders approve two projects in council budget meeting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia city leaders passed two items that would improve the Columbia Regional Airport parking lot, and the I-70/U.S. 63 Connector and St. Charles Road bridges.

The $1.5 million project involves demolishing the existing gravel parking lot surface and building a new paved parking lot across Airport Road from the terminal. An additional 57 parking spaces will be paved for $257,752.

The FAA will reimburse the city $1,308,781 for the project, according to the council memo. This leaves the City of Columbia to pay the remaining $267,717. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2025.

Project number two that was passed is the $1.7 million agreement to enhance the I-70/U.S. 63 Connector and St. Charles Road as part of phase one of the Improve I-70 project. According to the council memo, $1,095,000 has been committed for the design and construction of the enhancements. Of that amount, $600,000 is being contributed from the University of Missouri, $300,000 is being contributed from Boone County, and $195,000 is being contributed from other sources. The City has been asked to fund the difference of $649,241, which will be from the council reserve funds.