BERNIE, Mo. - The City of Bernie has been awarded a $185,000 grant to repair and replace sidewalks along portions of Highway 25 and Highway U. The grant was awarded by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at their meeting in June. The project is entirely funded by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
The contractor for the project will be R.L. Persons Construction in Poplar Bluff. R.L. Persons was awarded a $580,000 total contract which includes projects in Malden and Gideon, as well as the one in Bernie.
David Wyman, district engineer with MoDOT, said MoDOT is focusing on alternate transportation projects, as well as roads and highways. Projects such as bike trails and sidewalks are included in the alternate transportation emphasis.
Eric Krapf, an engineer with the MoDOT district office in Sikeston, said the goal is to make the sidewalks accessible to those with disabilities. The sidewalks to be repaired or replaced are on Highway 25 from the Highway Z and U intersection to the warehouse of Hope International (the old Brown Shoe factory). Also included are sidewalks on Highway U from the Highway 25 intersection to Bernie High School.
Krapf said all curb ramps, sloping and grading of the concrete sidewalks will be designed to be accessible by those with disabilities.
The date for start of construction at Bernie has not been released.
Other projects in Southeast Missouri to receive funding by the Commission, are a $115,214 sidewalk project in Oak Ridge, a $86,579 for the Trans-America Bike Trail in the Southeast District, $219,547 for guardrail improvements at various locations in the Southeast District and $257,985 for guardrail and guard cable repair on various routes in the Southeast District.
Additional information regarding timelines and impacts to traffic will be released prior to the start of construction. Work zones will be marked with signs as work gets underway. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in the Bernie work area, as well as in all MoDOT work zones.