With the start of Rolla Public Schools and the first day of school for Missouri S&T students this Monday, Aug. 23, the energy, and hustle and bustle of a new school year is in the air. Along with this traditional increase in student activity, is the noticeable construction activity in the Rolla area that is the culmination of many years of planning, strategizing and collaboration. Among the projects currently in progress or scheduled for construction are the new Colton’s Steakhouse and Grill located next to Panera’s on Bishop Highway; the new Missouri S&T Innovation Park office building located on 10th Street; plans for the construction of the Missouri S&T Student Design Center at the corner of 10th and Bishop Avenue; the extensive renovations at Thomas Jefferson Hall on Bishop Highway, the new Kappa Delta Sorority house being constructed at the corner of Pine and Bishop Highway; the construction of two additional Missouri S&T fraternities; modernization and internal renovations at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Bishop Avenue, and preliminary construction of the new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in the northwest area of the Wal-Mart parking lot off Hwy. 63 South.
The Rolla City Council also recently approved a contract for the construction of the new Bryant Drive Extension to Dig It Construction that will pave the way for a new road and gateway entrance to the Missouri S&T Innovation Park. Within the next few weeks the McDonalds restaurant located at Kingshighway and Bryant Drive will be demolished, rebuilt, and modernized which will provide an attractive appearance to this new intersection that will include a new traffic light installed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The traffic light currently located at the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Kingshighway will be removed by MoDOT as well – further encouraging motorists to use the future Kingshighway/Bryant Drive Extension intersection to access Fairgrounds Road and Innovation Park.
In addition, several new multi-family structures are also being built to accommodate the area’s ever-expanding residential market. Rolla is experiencing quite a surge in construction that is getting the attention of other businesses, investors and retailers who recognize the regional strength Rolla has with its strategic location at the intersection of I-44 and Highway 63, the presence of a nationally-ranked engineering and research university, (Missouri S&T), several other well-known colleges and institutes, and outstanding health and medical facilities, and an ever-expanding venue of shopping, dinning and hospitality offerings.
Growing and stimulating the economy continues to be of utmost importance to the Rolla City Council and City staff as we continue to work collaboratively with organizations and agencies such as the Rolla Regional Economic Commission, Rolla Community Development Corporation, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Missouri S&T, Phelps County Commission, Rolla Downtown Business Association, Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Missouri Department of Economic Development, and the Missouri Municipal League.
Another important event that will impact the future of our community is the upcoming City Council Budget Workshop scheduled for this Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm Street). Public hearings to discuss and provide input on the City’s 2010-2011 Annual budget, which officially begins on Oct. 1, will be held during the Sept. 8 and Sept. 20 Rolla City Council meetings at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City. For more information regarding the City’s upcoming 2010/2011 budget, please contact the City’s Finance Director at (573) 426-6980.
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