KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract during its regular meeting Wednesday for relocation of the north outer road of I-70 in Grain Valley to Radmacher Brothers Excavation Co.  The $13,373,704 construction project is expected to begin this summer.

This project is the final improvement in the Kansas City District made possible through Amendment 3 funds. Amendment 3 was passed by Missourians in November 2004 to keep transportation dollars focused on major highway needs throughout the state. Voters approved the measure that specifically required MoDOT to bond-finance a long list of transportation improvement projects and get them started as quickly as possible to fix a deteriorating system. The bond debt will be paid off within 20 years.

"Both Amendment 3 and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal stimulus funds are now all invested," said District Engineer Dan Niec. "But now, at MoDOT's current transportation funding levels, Missourians aren't likely to see this type of improvement project again until we solve this funding shortage. We are committed to maintain our current system for as long as possible, but major new construction will be curtailed."

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