Environmental Impact Statement: Clark and Lewis Counties, Missouri

Donald Neumann
Federal Highway Administration
10 June 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 111 (Friday, June 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14184]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 

Environmental Impact Statement: Clark and Lewis Counties, 
Missouri

agency: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

action: Notice of intent.

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summary: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed project 
in Clark and Lewis Counties, Missouri, and Henry and Lee Counties, 
Iowa.

for further information contact: Mr. Donald Neumann, Federal Highway 
Administration, P.O. Box 1787, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Telephone 
Number 314-636-7104; or Mr. Bob Sfreddo, Design Engineer, Missouri 
Highway and Transportation Department, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 
65102, Telephone Number 314-751-2876.

supplementary information: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Missouri 
Highway and Transportation Department (MHTD), will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve a portion 
of U.S. Route 61 (the Avenue of the Saints roadway) in Clark and Lewis 
Counties, Missouri, and Henry and Lee Counties, Iowa.
    1. The proposed improvement would provide a four-lane highway from 
Canton, Missouri, to approximately 1.61 kilometers (1 mile) south of 
Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The project is approximately 90 kilometers (56 
miles) long. The Missouri Section would be an expressway on expressway 
right of way, with freeway and interchange right of way purchased at 
major state routes. It would run for 37 kilometers (23 miles) along the 
corridor of existing portions of U.S. 61, U.S. 136 Spur, U.S. 136, and 
Missouri Route B. The Iowa section would be designed to expressway 
standards and would generally follow U.S. 218 and Iowa 394 for 53 
kilometers (33 miles). The corridor crosses the Des Moines River and 
includes the crossing now occupied by Iowa 394 and Missouri Route B. 
However, the new crossing will be at a different location. Several 
wetland areas associated with rivers and streams will be crossed.
    2. In Missouri, alternatives under consideration include (1) a ``no 
build'' option, (2) improvement of the existing alignment, and (3) two 
alternatives on new alignments.
    The first Missouri alternate on new alignment would begin north of 
the junction on U.S. 61 and Missouri 16, just west of Canton, and would 
extend along a new alignment west of U.S. 61 and generally west of U.S. 
136 Spur. It would provide a western bypass around Wayland, Missouri, 
and continue northwest to Missouri Route B. St. Francisville, Missouri, 
would be bypassed on the west.
    The second Missouri alternative on new alignment would also begin 
north of the U.S. 61 and Missouri 16 junction and would extend north on 
an alignment east of U.S. 61 and U.S. 136 Spur. It would bypass Wayland 
and continue north to Missouri Route B. South of St. Francisville, it 
would cross Route B and bypass St. Francisville to the east. Within 
Missouri, combinations of build alternatives are possible.
    In Iowa, alternatives being considered include (1) a ``no build'' 
option, (2) improvement of the existing alignment, and (3) a 
construction alternative that includes some sections on new alignment 
combined with upgrading the existing alignment. This alternative 
consists of improving existing two-lane sections of U.S. 218 and Iowa 
394 to four-lane expressway standards with eastern bypasses of the 
communities of Donnellson and Argyle.
    3. To date, preliminary information has been issued to local 
officials and other interested parties. The scoping process was 
initiated with Federal, State, and local agencies in September of 1993. 
Formal agency and public scoping meetings were held on October 12, 
1993, in Donnellson, Iowa. A meeting with local government officials 
and community leaders was held in Wayland, Missouri, on February 8, 
1994. On February 24, 1994, a second public information meeting was 
held near Wayland to gain public input about alternatives being 
considered for the project. In addition, public hearings will be held. 
Public notice will be given in advance of the date and time of each 
meeting. The draft EIS will be available prior to the public hearing 
for public review and comment. To ensure that the full range of issues 
related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant 
issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all 
interested parties. Any comments or questions concerning this proposed 
action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA or the Missouri 
Highway and Transportation Department at the addresses provided above. 
Missouri is the lead state for the proposed action.

    Issued on: June 1, 1994.
Donald Neumann,
Program Review Engineer, Jefferson City.
[FR Doc. 94-14184 Filed 6-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M