With funding and the design approved for the relocation of Route 79 near Ashburn to the Salt River Bottoms,
MoDOT is moving along in the process to construct the new highway.  The
nearly one mile section of Route 79 is being moved off of a bluff due
to existing landslides that have caused portions of Route 79 just south
of Ashburn to slide down the hill.  The highway has been closed since
November 2009, and the slide continues to have movement.

A public
hearing was held last summer to present options for solving the slide
situation along Route 79.  "There are several areas of concern, and we
have already repaired one slide in 2008," explained Chris Knapp, P.E., transportation project manager
with MoDOT.  "We were looking for a long-term solution, and generally,
area residents agreed this was the most reasonable option," he added. 

The
funding was approved by the Missouri Highways and Transportation
Commission at its July meeting, and the design was approved at its
September meeting.  The cost of the project is estimated at $3.1
million and was made possible by postponing two bridge replacement
projects on Route 79 in Lincoln County.  Those bridges will be
replaced, but not until 2013.

According to Knapp, the next steps
are to begin the process to acquire right of way and finish the
design.  "We expect to have a contractor selected next March, with
construction to begin in late spring or early summer," he said.

An
informational public meeting will be held next spring so area residents
can see renderings of what Route 79 and the area landscape will look
like once the project is done.  Information about the project is online
at modot.org/northeast, or can be requested by calling Knapp at 1-888 ASK MODOT.