Parsons aims for $25M highway project

Instead of making improvements to North 16th Street by piecemeal, the city may apply for a federal grant for a $25 million project.

City commissioners on Monday will consider a $30,000 agreement with transportation planning and engineering firm TranSystems to assist in the completion of a U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant. BUILD stands for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development.

If approved, the grant would make major improvements to 16th, which also is U.S. 59. Although in the preliminary stages, a map shared by Jim Zaleski, economic development director, during a Thursday work session shows the proposed project beginning south of the Labette Creek bridge and continuing to the city limits.

The bridge would be widened to four lanes, as would the street throughout the project, overlaid with new concrete. An acceleration/deceleration lane also would be included on one stretch of the highway.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)