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(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) St. Joseph residents approved a $20 million bond issue for bridge and city street repairs Tuesday.
The issue received more than 75 percent of voters' support in the municipal election.
Projects included in bond:
Parkway bridges: King Hill, 22nd Street, Lovers Lane, Gene Field Road, 13th Street, 11th Street
Huntoon bridge
5th Avenue bridge
Hyde Park cable-stay bridge
Frederick Avenue bridge (I-29)
6th Street viaduct: repairs and deck sealing
Cross-road culvert pipes
Krug Park lower pedestrian bridge
Northwest Parkway pedestrian bridge
MacArthur Drive: Add safety and aesthetic upgrades for pedestrians
The bond money will be issued in July 2020.
The money from the bond will go towards fixing and replacing old bridges and streets in St. Joseph. Homeowners should expect to pay $23 per year with the bond, per $100,000 valued home, according to the city’s website.
The city plans to use the bonds for about 12 bridges or projects including many of the deficient bridges along the parkway. The average age of the bridges in need of attention is 79. Six of the bridges were built before 1930, including the 22nd Street bridge over Corby Parkway.
“That bridge was built in 1915,” said director of public works, Andy Clements. “There were Model-Ts running around and a majority of people in St. Joseph had carriages. We got 105 years out of that bridge. There’s just not much more you can do.”
School buses currently cannot drive across the 22nd Street bridge because it is load limited to 8 tons.
