Atchison leaders are showing support for an overhaul of U.S. Highway 59, east of Atchison, located in Buchanan County, Missouri. The stretch of roadway, due to elevation, was closed for long periods last year due to the flooding of the Missouri River.

Discussion has been ongoing regarding the elevation issue, with the Mo Kan Regional Council seeking support to apply for funding to move forward the future project. Atchison City Manager Becky Berger May 4 explained that while the resolution supports the Buchanan County Build Grant application to make the improvements, the resolution comes with no financial requirement for Atchison. “This is simply just a resolution supporting Buchanan County’s application. There is no matching grant, which is great because, apparently, neither Buchanan County, nor MODOT, has the money for this project. This would pay for $700,000 to $800,000 in design and engineering for this project. And then, Mo-Kan Regional Council, who is the organization applying for this grant, would then try and identify construction funds once the design and engineering is done.”

According to Berger, actual construction, to change the highway’s elevation along the stretch of roadway is estimated at nearly $9 million.

The Commission granted unanimous approval to the resolution, and Berger said it’s hoped that with the potential funding of the project study, the next step would be actual construction, once funds become available for Missouri.