Bryant Drive Extension underway

Construction and renovation projects (including more new restaurants and businesses) of all shapes and sizes are popping up around Rolla. Most notably, is the impressive new building being constructed at Missouri S&T’s Innovation Park located on 10th Street, and the early phases of the new Bryant Drive Extension that will create a new traffic intersection at Bryant Drive and Kingshighway.

You may have noticed some of the heavy equipment and signs of early construction work next to the McDonald’s restaurant on Kingshighway, and next to the Webster University and Pizza Inn parking lots where the new Bryant Drive Extension begins. Development agreements among the City of Rolla, Fairgrounds Chevrolet and McDonald’s for the Bryant Drive Extension were approved by the Rolla City Council at the June 21, 2010 Council meeting, and the City received the green light to proceed with this significant project.

These development agreements culminate several months of planning and negotiations with these three entities as well as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to provide a new transportation facility to serve not only these existing and new developments, but also provide an integral link in the development of the Rolla West Area. These three entities will be providing the rights of way and the City of Rolla will be constructing the road improvements. The road extension is estimated to be $580,000. This extension of Bryant Drive is scheduled for construction beginning in mid-August 2010 and will correspond with the construction of the new McDonald’s Restaurant.

The new Bryant Drive Extension will provide one of the gateway entrances to the new Missouri S&T Innovation Park, and improve traffic mobility on Kingshighway and Fairgrounds Road. Sometime this summer MoDOT will be relocating the traffic light now located at the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Kingshighway to the new intersection that will be built at the intersection of Bryant Drive and Kingshighway just west of the McDonald’s restaurant. When the new Bryant Drive Extension, intersection and McDonald’s restaurant are complete, this area on Kingshighway will be significantly enhanced – bringing more attention to the progressive, welcoming image of our City.

What is most encouraging and exciting about the many developments occurring in Rolla, including the new Benton Square in Rolla’s new Arts and Entertainment District, the opening of the St. John’s Facility on Martin Springs Drive, the new Walgreens at Hwy. 72 and Ridgeview Road, and adjacent inline retail center, several new restaurants and businesses, is that there are multiple new projects and developments that are springing up all across Rolla. This sends a message to visitors, investors, and developers that Rolla is a City on the move, where things are happening, and where folks traveling on I-44 and Hwy. 63, and of course South Central Missouri, should stop by and spend an afternoon, a day or a weekend.

In closing I’d like to remind everyone that the Phelps County Fair is just around the corner and runs from July 21 to July 24 at the Phelps County Fairgrounds located off Route 63 South. The next Rolla City Council meeting will be held Monday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street. For more City events and news, visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/events or join us on Facebook, Twitter, or the City’s BLOG.