Alabama/Highway 59 intersection project targeted for spring 2025
By Cameron Montemayor
A multi-million dollar project designed to reshape the South Side intersection at Alabama Street and U.S. Highway 59 is being targeted for next spring, according to Missouri Department of Transportation officials.
While no formal schedule for construction has been set at this time, MoDOT is targeting early spring of 2025 for the $8.3 million reconstruction project, with March being the earliest timeframe work could begin.
Amino Brothers Co. Inc., a Kansas City-based contractor that specializes in highway construction, was recently awarded the bid for the project, which is expected to take place in multiple phases over a two-year period.
A spokesperson for MoDOT’s Northwest district said additional public engagement sessions will be scheduled with stakeholders and residents before construction to discuss the phases of work and dates. Dates for public engagement sessions will be announced at a later date and could take place in late January or early February.
The project is designed to improve turning movements for vehicles and tractor-trailers, increase capacity for vehicles turning or stopped at the Route U train crossing and boost safety overall by reducing line of site issues and improving traffic flow.
“It’s very congested and just kind of disorganized,” said Jose Rodriguez, Northwest area engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, during an interview in September. “It’ll help the safety in that aspect. We expect it to make a huge difference.”
One of the largest changes to the area will see a new roadway constructed further south of the current intersection to connect Highway 59 with Alabama Street/Route U, eliminating a current portion of Alabama Street/Route U from Stockyards Expressway to the intersection.
Vehicles will still have to go over the railroad crossing when traveling along Alabama Street/Route U, a source of significant traffic jams at busy times of the day.
In order to reduce traffic backup, portions of Lake Avenue and Highway 59 will be widened to allow extended north and southbound turn lanes to be constructed. The turn lanes will provide more capacity for stopped vehicles waiting at the railroad crossing, allowing additional vehicles to flow freely while reducing line-of-sight issues in certain areas.
