Major Monett city street projects underway

Tree removal on Central Avenue starts
 
 
Public projects in Monett stepped up with tree cutting on Central Avenue between Cleveland and Bond streets. City engineer Kevin Sprenkle updated city council members on upcoming public works projects during the council’s work session on Jan. 22.
Sprenkle said the Central Avenue project involves removing 36 trees. The Missouri Department of Transportation approved closing that section of the state highway, placing signage as far away as Hwy. 97 in Pierce City to alert truck traffic of a detour, encouraging alternative routes. Fliers have been distributed to residents. Work has been scheduled through Feb. 27, all done by city crews.
Tree removal is part of the sidewalk replacement work on Central Avenue, funded by a $399,000 federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant.
Reconstruction on Central Avenue will likely not begin until July or August, Sprenkle said, subject to completion of all the utility relocations needed. Crews will first reconstruct the century-plus-old storm sewers under the road, including the one on First Street that collapsed in 2024.

The city has been awarded an additional TAP grant for sidewalks in the center city, from Bond to County Street, between Second and Eighth streets, a project estimated at more than $618,000, with the city providing 20 percent of the match. Sprenkle noted the State Historic Preservation Office expressed some environmental concerns about adjacent buildings that he felt could be overcome.
As for other projects, Sprenkle reported efforts to build the $7.6 million railroad overpass on Chapell Drive had covered much of the preliminary work. Moving water and sewer lines, at a cost of around $400,000, was finished, running close to half of the $950,000 spent to date. Approval for a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant came through on Dec. 16. Grants are expected to cover nearly $5 million of the project, with the city spending $2.8 million.
Sprenkle said the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad agreed to add another $250,000 to the cost. The project at this point is waiting for railroad officials to give their final approval to the bridge plans and the right-of-way improvements. Sprenkle was hopeful that approval would come this month. All the environmental reviews had been made and cleared, he added. Construction is expected to be completed by May 2027.
As for other projects, Sprenkle reported the new concrete entrances to the extension of Lowe’s Lane, reenforced to carry heavy loads to and from the Steel Tech plant, had been poured by mid-January. All the curb and guttering were now in place. Final pavement on the $1.1 million undertaking was expected to be poured by mid-February, subject to weather conditions. The city had yet to spend $416,000 of the Governor’s Cost Share Grant for the project.
Additional work estimated to cost $15,000 would be needed on North Lowe’s Lane, upgrading it to fit the new portion, involving staking out the existing right-of-way and clearing the land, including stump removal and removing an existing wood shed.
As for pending work on roundabouts on Hwy. 60, Sprenkle reported a new man with the Missouri Department of Transportation had taken over the project by the airport at Hwy. 97. Discussion anticipated work beginning in April. The city had concerns about continuing access to the airport during construction. Sprenkle expected extended talks would run over the next 60 days, and get into serious details about a month before work starts. Water line relocation had been completed. The project was expected to cost $43,546, entirely covered by MoDOT.
As for the connecting road between Hwy. H and Hwy. 37 across the north perimeter of North Park, Sprenkle reported 90 percent of the field survey work was done. Survey details would reach the project engineer by mid-February. The road project has been estimated to cost $1.3 million.
Field surveys for street improvements on Farm Road 2230, going east from Hwy. H and paralleling the north edge of the planned North Hills subdivision, were 75 percent complete and expected to reach the pre-planning stages by late February. That upgrade is projected to cost $511,700.
Subject to approval in the city’s 2026-27 fiscal year budget, Sprenkle referenced three projects that would piggyback off other plans by MoDOT. These included milling and filling Broadway, from Central to 13th Street, as well as Cleveland Avenue, from Ninth to 13th Street. At the same time, Jerome Lane, the interconnecting road behind McDonald’s between Kyler and Plaza Drive, would receive a new layer of asphalt. Sprenkle said Jerome Lane was “settling.” These three projects combined were estimated to cost nearly $500,000.