By Pauline Masson –
Public Works Commissioner Robert Brueggemann says the long promised First and Osage streets right turn lane will be built in May 2026.
The promise of this improvements dates to 2018 as part of a plan to ease snarls in truck traffic headed for the city’s industrial parks on South Denton Road.
After eight years of traffic studies, plans, engineering, grant application and right-of -way acquisition, the project can now move forward Mr. Brueggemann reported at the July 15 Board of Aldermen (BOA) meeting.
Funding for the project was provided by a $1.1 million 80-20 matching grant under the state CMAQ funding that the city applied for in 2019. Federal share of the grant is $892,173 and a local share of $223,043
The application included $643.055 construction cost,$128,611 20% contingency, $150,000 right-of way-Acquisition, $110,600 survey, design and engineering, $82,950 construction engineering.
The Missouri Highway Commission (MoDOT) authorized funding in March 2022 for a right turn lane and intersection improvements at Osage Street and First Street, providing for congestion mitigation and air quality (CMAQ).
Four construction firms bid on the project. Lamke Trenching submitted the low bid of $606,646.85.
While the improvements promise traffic release, it involved the loss of a historic residence at 222 North First Street.
The 2 1/2-story house with its intricate gabled roof and wraparound front porch has ties to Pacific’s railroad heyday. It is one of dozens of large frame homes built in the late 19th century when Pacific was an industrial town centered around the two railroads. Many have been torn down.
“That house was known as the Aunt Kate O’Connell house,” local historian Sue Reed said. “I’m not sure whose aunt she was.”
The city purchased the property in April 2019 for $100,000, using funds from the East Osage Street commercial improvement district (CID). At first the city hoped to move the historic house, but when no plans to purchase and use the structure came about, the house was demolished.’
The demolition was necessary, officials said, to make way for to make way for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) 2020 improvements on Route 66 that includes widening First Street at this intersection.
“the idea was to get the construction started in February,”Mr. Brueggemann said, “and have it wrapped up by May.”
Aunt Kate O’Connell was the sister of my paternal grandmother Johanna O’ Connell Dailey. Kate never married. Johanna married my grandfather James Patrick Dailey, who was a cousin to the many Daileys in Pacific. James was a carpenter who came from California to work with some of his Pacific cousins on the 1904 World’s Fair. While here, he met and married Johanna. James built a hardware store at 133 S Central in Eureka. (The building still stands and currently is The Robyn’s Nest.) He, Johanna, and their six children (Mary, Daniel, Margaret, James, Edward, and Marcella) lived upstairs over the store. Edward was my father. Kate O’Connell was their aunt and, therefore, our family’s aunt. Sadly, I never met her, but I know she was beloved. Later in life, James, Johanna, and Kate all lived in the home at Osage and First.
Anne,
This was a wonderful addition to my post. Adds more local history, which is what I always hope for.
Another’ hey it’s only tax money’ deal; 5,000 square feat of paving, curbs and bumps in the middle of the road for on $ 1.1 million dollars. what a deal, and they are going to try and bypass most of the truck traffic to North 4th Street, for more of your tax dollars.