(KTTS News) — Part of Weaver Road in South Springfield has reopened to traffic.
Farm Road 178 between Farm Road 145 and Nettleton has been closed as part of work on the Kansas Expressway Extension project.
On Monday, crews will close Plainview Road between Woodfield Avenue and Westwood Avenue so they can build a new intersection at Plainview and Kansas Expressway.
During the closed period motorists will be unable to travel continuously between Campbell Avenue and Cox Road.
However, residents located west of the new corridor will still have access to Plainview Road between Cox Road and the project site; and residents located east of the new corridor will still have access to Plainview Road between Campbell Avenue and the project site.
The Plainview Road closure is anticipated to last until Nov. 1.
Phase 1 of the Kansas Extension Project (Republic Road to Plainview Road) is anticipated to be completed and open to motorists in mid-December of 2023.
Phase 2 of the project (Plainview Road to Farm Road 190) is expected to begin shortly after with an estimated completion in the fall of 2025.
Press Release
The Greene County Highway Department is reopening a section of Weaver Road (Farm Road 178, between Farm Road 145 and Nettleton Avenue) for motorists in south Springfield starting in the early morning of Thursday, Sept. 7.
The closure is a part of the Kansas Expressway Extension project that’s building a new two-lane road beginning at Republic Road. The corridor will have turning lanes at major intersections, new stormwater improvements, and a pedestrian and bicycle path along the road.
For construction to continue on the project, contractors must now begin work on a section of Plainview Road (Farm Road 182) in south Springfield. Beginning on Monday, Sept. 11 Plainview Road between Woodfield Avenue and Westwood Avenue will temporarily be closed. (See map in attachments) This will allow contractors to construct a new intersection at Kansas Expressway and Plainview Road.
During the closed period motorists will be unable to travel continuously between Campbell Avenue and Cox Road. However, residents located west of the new corridor will still have access to Plainview Road between Cox Road and the project site; and residents located east of the new corridor will still have access to Plainview Road between Campbell Avenue and the project site. Citizens will have limited sidewalk access near the road closure.
The Plainview Road closure is anticipated to last until Nov. 1. Throughout the period, a signed detour will be in place to encourage motorists to utilize Weaver Road as an east/west connection between Cox Road and Campbell Avenue.
Phase 1 of the Kansas Extension Project (Republic Road to Plainview Road) is anticipated to be completed and open to motorists in mid-December of 2023. Phase 2 of the project (Plainview Road to Farm Road 190) is expected to begin shortly after with an estimated completion in the fall of 2025.
The new roadway will provide motorists with an alternative connection in southern Greene County and provide traffic congestion relief along parallel routes at Cox Road and Campbell Avenue.
“The Phase 1 finish line is in sight and Weaver Road is now open! Unexpected delays caused by underground utility lines put the scheduled completion of Phase 1 in jeopardy, but our Greene County Highway Department, along with our contractors, put in the extra hours to keep the promised fall of 2023 opening,” said Commissioner Rusty MacLachlan. “The intersection of Kansas and Plainview begins next week with the grand opening of Phase 1 to follow shortly thereafter.”
Emery Sapp & Sons was awarded the $15.7 million project by MoDOT in December of 2021. 80% of the project is paid with federal transportation funds and 20% is paid by Greene County. The City of Springfield is also a cost share partner as the northern portion of the extension falls within the city limits of Springfield.
