County, Wentzville partner to make improvements to Hwy. 61

St. Charles County, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the city of Wentzville, has received approval for a $14 million funding partnership to improve the safety of U.S. Highway 61.

In January, St. Charles County submitted an application to MoDOT for the funding partnership in response to recent severe accidents on the highway. It was determined that the safety of the corridor could be improved with the construction of a grade-separated interchange at Missouri Route P and Peine Road, as well as the construction of improvements at several other intersections along the corridor.

The partnership includes $8 million in funding from MoDOT, $3.5 million from St. Charles County, and $2.5 million from the city of Wentzville.

“I am pleased with the cooperative spirit demonstrated by MoDOT in approving the county’s application to improve this dangerous stretch of highway,” said Steve Ehlmann, St. Charles county executive. “This type of project is also made possible because St. Charles County voters renewed the half-cent Transportation Sales Tax in August 2012.”

This project was a high priority for St. Charles County Council Member Joe Cronin, whose district encompasses the highway. “Far too many accidents have occurred in this section of highway. I am pleased to see these improvements made for the public’s safety,” Cronin said.

Ehlmann said that it is anticipated that design work will start later this year and construction will begin in 2016.