Contracts approved for two Southeast Mo. road projects

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved contracts for two Southeast Missouri road projects as well as a contract for improvements to guardrails and guard cables throughout the Southeast District. A $6.7 million project for improvements to U.S. 61, awarded to G&M Concrete & Asphalt of Troy, Mo., will provide resurfacing, shoulder improvements, rumble strips and striping from Route OO near Bloomsdale, Mo., to Highway 34 in Jackson. Work should begin this spring with completion by the end of the year, the Missouri Department of Transportation said in a news release. A $284,804 contract for replacing the Route A bridge over Caney Creek north of New Hamburg, Mo., was awarded to Joe's Bridge & Grading Inc. of Poplar Bluff, Mo. The existing bridge will be replaced with a precast, prestressed concrete box girder bridge, with work expected to begin as early as March. The contractor cannot close Route A until May 15, with construction expected to be completed by Aug. 14. The commission also awarded a contract for on-call guardrail and guard cable repairs on Interstate 55, Interstate 57 and Interstate 155 in Southeast Missouri to Collins & Hermann Inc. of St. Louis. The contract also includes repair work on U.S. 67 in Madison and St. Francois counties.