News – Tuesday, October 21st 2025

MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge, MRPC Planning Manager Anne Freund. MoDOT Central District Area Engineer Preston Kramer, the Dent County Commission, Zach Moser from the Dent County Health Department, Salem City Administrator Sally Burbridge and Salem Economic Development Director Carrie Sutterfield were in attendance to the Dent County Transportation Needs annual meeting held at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday. Kramer reported the “Standing Rock Bridge” in Gladden on Highway 19 has been completed and is now removed from the list. Kramer further added the bridge on Highway 32 East at Boss over the West Fork of the Huzzah Creek, the bridge on Highway 19 north over Spring Creek in Salem, and the Route B bridge over Dry Fork have all been added to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan for replacement in the next few years so these projects no longer have to be included to the priority list. The group discussed all the identified transportation needs from previous years, and one new item was added to the list. It was the Meramec River bridge on Route B. There was more discussion on the issues caused by the new entrance to McDonald’s on Highway 32-72 at Highway 19 where people heading eastbound are turning left into McDonald’s from the designated westbound left turn lane to go south on Highway 19. This was first identified last year after McDonald’s moved locations. The priorities determined from the meeting are still a new bridge on Route TT over Crooked Creek near Sligo and that work is currently being scoped by MoDOT engineers, the addition of a right turn lane heading north on Highway 19 South at the intersection of Roosevelt, shoulder and alignment issues on Route B, and new shoulders and safety improvements on Highway 119 to Montauk. If additional money becomes available for repairs, the high priority unfunded projects would be for safety improvements to be made at the intersection of Highway 19 and Franklin Street as well as the new McDonald’s entrance issues. The board also reviewed multi-modal needs such as the need for increase or availability of public transportation for everyone such as the services provided by the SMTS busses for the public as well as for non-medical needs after hours, adding sidewalks on the east side of Highway 19 from Center Street to Highway 32, adding sidewalks from Route J to Highway 72 north, and adding sidewalks from Carty Street to the Craig Industrial Drive on Highway 32 East (Scenic Rivers Blvd). Also discussed was adding crosswalks at Highway 32-72 and Babb Lane, crosswalks at Highway 32-72 at the Warfel/Doss Road intersection and adding crosswalks at Highway 19 at Center Street as well as Highway 19 at Franklin. There was discussion to possibly turn the Second Street bridge in the city that is currently closed into a pedestrian and/or bike bridge, but the city did not take action on that for this year’s budget, and to paint bike paths on the shoulders of Highway 32-72 east from the city limits to Highway 19 where it is wide enough. Prigge said the priority road information will be discussed when MRPC and other regional commissions get together with MoDOT to address transportation issues in December at the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee meeting. She also said MRPC recognizes that not everyone could attend this meeting and if you have a priority road issue or multi-modal issue you would like to contribute, please call the MRPC offices at 573-265-2993. 

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) will be presenting eleven awards at its Annual Awards Dinner on October 23rd at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Each year, the MRPC honors residents and organizations of the Meramec Region who volunteer their time and talents and give support to their communities. Individuals being recognized by MRPC for Outstanding Contributions to a Community in the immediate Dent County area include Kelly Money of St. James, nominated by MRPC Board Member Taisia Gordon; and Dana Richter of Steelville, nominated by Crawford County Presiding Commissioner Steve Black. A locally elected official was also nominated and that is Dent County Clerk Angie Curley of Salem, nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson. Also being recognized as an Outstanding Local Agency Representative is Rolla City Administrator John Butz of Rolla, nominated by MRPC board members Kent Bagnall and Dawn Bell. The public is invited to attend the event in Salem. The 2025 Eugene E. Northern award, the highest honor given by MRPC for volunteers and community service, will also be announced at the Annual Dinner. The Eugene E. Northern award recipient remains a secret until announced at the Annual Dinner. Dent County is proud to have been home to the last two Eugene E. Northern award winners in Stan Podorski and Deloris Gray Wood. The deadline for reservations is October 9th. Reservations are $40 per person and can be made by contacting Linda Carroll: 573-265-2993.