Chapell Drive project groundbreaking this year

By Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

The city of Monett aims to start work this year on an overpass project approved six years ago, adding one final bridge over railroad tracks in city.

The overpass project to add a concrete girder bridge to carry Chapell Drive above BNSF railway was approved by voters over six years ago.

City Engineer Kevin Sprenkle said that the project was approved and funding applications for federal funding assistance began between 2017 and 2018, with funds being approved in December of 2025.

“COVID did set things back because of everything that was going on,” he said. “The most recent budget that we have is right at $7.3 million for the project cost estimate. And at this point in time, we’re waiting on formal approval from BNSF.

“We were right in the midst of design when COVID hit, so everything came to a screeching halt on finalizing the design. We were going through preliminary processing with BNSF. This was part of the city Transportation Tax implemented in 2016.”

Sprenkle said the project had actually been planned long before the project approval. 

“This thing, the Chapell Drive overpass, was looked at in 1986,” he said. “At that point in time, the city council picked Kyler street as the overpass to go for, and then we built the Eisenhower overpass.

“This has been an ongoing project for years and the city applied for funding in probably 2017 or 2018. We submitted for federal funds, on one of the FRA’s (Federal Railroad Administration) funding programs that came up. They were looking at eliminating, I think it was 80% of all of the outgrade crossings throughout the nation.”

Sprenkle said the city was denied the first grant it applied for but was ultimately awarded a grant for $4.987 million for the $7.8 million dollar project.

According to the city’s project plan, the total estimated cost for the Project is $7,609,399.

The remainder of the funding for the project, in the amount of $2,782,820, will be provided by the City, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and BNSF. The non-federal funding contributions represent 36.6% of the overall Project total.

The city will fund approximately 30% of the project, in the amount of $2,282,820.

A breakdown of the project cost shows $2,358,914 for roadway construction, $3,956,887 for bridge construction, $989,222 for right-of- way/engineering, and $304,376 for utility relocations. 

The project includes a 36-foot-wide driving surface with a 5-foot sidewalk, 42-inch barriers for pedestrian railing,  extension of existing three-cell culvert in both directions to accommodate additional fill for the north approach as well as curb, gutter and storm sewers to collect additional water runoff from the new structure.

Sprenkle also said COVID was not the only factor that slowed the project, as standards have been updated for such crossings since the last project completed in the city, forcing an adjustment in plans.

“At this point in time, we’re waiting on formal approval from BNSF to get the bridge plans approved, because everything happens to go through the railroad,” he said. “The railway changed some of their requirements from when we did the last overpass.”

Sprenkle said the city has not been motionless in the project while waiting for approvals, but has instead been working on elements of the project that are in city control. 

He said that city utilities have already been moved for the project, with one waterline left to move when construction begins. 

The city is expected to break ground on the project this year, with hopes of completion in 2027.

Mayor Randy Burke said this project will be beneficial not only for traffic flow and safely crossing railroads, but it will also aid in response time for first responders and emergency services. 

“Another key factor is when we started this, the hospital was in central Monett,” he said. “That’s no longer the case, so from a public safety standpoint, it’s good for emergency services, particularly if you’re going to grow up here on the north side.”

Monett was built as a railroad town acting as a transportation hub for people and products since the 1800s, with several roads having to cross railroad tracks. 

This has facilitated the need for such overpasses in multiple areas of the city, but according to city officials, this will be the last overpass placed.