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MoDOT details $122.1 million Joplin‑area program, highlights $61.6M 7th Street overhaul
Summary
At an Nov. 3 informal meeting, MoDOT project manager Craig Switzer briefed Joplin City Council on completed and upcoming highway, bridge and intersection work across the Joplin area, including a $61.6 million reconstruction of 7th Street and a $6 million city contribution for ADA and storm work.
MoDOT project manager Craig Switzer told the Joplin City Council on Nov. 3 that the agency has completed multiple resurfacing, signal and bridge projects in the Joplin area and is planning a program of work the agency estimates at about $122.1 million.
Switzer said completed work in 2023–25 included Route 43 resurfacing (roughly $3.5 million), signal replacement at Main Street and Fountain Road (~$330,000), intersection improvements (including Rangeline/Newman and Main/34th, ~$817,000), Range Line/15th cost‑share (~$1.5 million) and a westbound I‑44 bridge rehabilitation (~$3.1 million). He also described an emergency repair to a David Drive bridge damaged by a hauling incident (~$349,000). Switzer said roughly $9.6 million of recent work was within the JATSO planning area and about $8.9 million was within or adjacent to Joplin city limits.
Looking ahead, Switzer highlighted several large projects. A Davis Boulevard relocation was listed with a letting on 05/16/2025, construction start around March 15, 2026, and a target completion of Dec. 1, 2026 (estimated cost $2.9 million). The agency’s largest single item for the downtown corridor is a 4‑mile 7th Street pavement, ADA and operational improvement package, which Switzer cited at $61.6 million; he said the city has committed an additional $6 million for ADA and Willow Branch storm‑box work.
Switzer initially referenced a November letting date for the 7th Street contract and, after council questions about the day/date, corrected the letting day to Nov. 11. He gave a contract completion date for the project of Dec. 1, 2028. He also flagged planned resurfacing work on Main Street and an I‑44 resurfacing package (one segment estimated at $15.9 million), with several lettings and completion windows targeted in late 2026–2027.
For projects farther out, Switzer described a Route 43 (Main Street) bridge replacement over the CPKC railroad near Turkey Creek (tentative letting Dec. 2027; completion July 2029; ~$12.3 million) and a 32nd Street overpass over the CPKC railroad (tentative letting Dec. 2027; tentative completion Dec. 2028; ~ $27.5 million). He also described a general‑revenue design‑build for larger I‑44 capacity and bridge work that could add lanes in the Joplin section and said MoDOT is coordinating to include a city‑funded box culvert replacement and improved pedestrian access beneath I‑44. Switzer said multi‑hundred‑million dollar corridor studies in the JATSO area (including a Route 171 interstate‑designation study) are intended to inform future, larger investments.
Council members asked about safety at a recently redesigned intersection at 34th and Main Street after several recent crashes. Mr. Koppel said the council had observed multiple severe accidents and asked whether MoDOT had reviewed the location; Switzer said he would raise the issue with MoDOT traffic staff and have them look at the intersection.
Switzer closed by thanking city staff for ongoing coordination and cost‑sharing on projects. He took questions from council and said he would follow up on the intersection safety concern.
What happens next: MoDOT will continue design and letting activities per the schedules discussed and take the council’s safety concern at 34th and Main to traffic engineers for review. City staff and MoDOT will continue weekly coordination on the highlighted projects.
