Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, June 6, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senator Kit Bond and Representative Jo Ann Emerson today announced that the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will send Missouri $10 million in federal dollars to improve US Route 60.

"This is an important project for southeast Missouri," said Bond, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that authorizes all federal highway projects and a senior member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. "This money will help make an important stretch of road safer and easier to travel."

"I have long believed that a strong and sensible transportation infrastructure is critical to enhancing economic development and job creation in our communities," said Emerson. The money for US 60 will go a long way in making some much needed improvements in Butler County. This will represnt another step in mine and Senator Bond's long term goal to make sure that Highway 60 becomes a four lane corridor across Southern Missouri."

The project upgrades ten miles of Route 60 to a four-lane highway from the Butler County line to the Route 60/67 interchange. Also includes building an overpass at County Road 415, new box culverts at Goose Creek and Beehole Creek and two new bridges at Cane Creek.

Senator Bond and Representative JoAnn Emerson worked together to secure the $10 million in federal dollars for the US Route 60 project in the fiscal year 2003 Appropriations Bill.