With Christmas in a few days, and New Years right around the corner, it’ll be easy to overlook the deadline to submit questions to MODOT regarding the replacement of the Rangeline Road bridge in Joplin. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

MODOT estimates that on an average day the Rangeline Road bridge over the Kansas City Southern railroad rack handles about 25,000 cars and trucks. It was constructed 45 years ago in 1976. The two-week public comment and question period is open until this upcoming Monday December 27.

The bridge, which is estimated to cost 6.2 million dollars, is included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across Missouri. The new Rangeline Road bridge will include sidewalks on both sides, it will also be two higher, wider by 15 feet and shorter by 27 feet. The project is scheduled to start in Spring of 2022, and be completed by December 1 next year. You can learn more about the project, leave a question or comment at modot.org/southwest For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro