Route 109 Widening and Pedestrian Improvements Reduce Congestion

The Route 109 Improvements Phase 2 project is a continuation of previous work on the corridor where the City of Wildwood championed the vision, developed the funding strategies, and executed the design and construction of infrastructure improvements to improve safety, increase capacity, and reduce congestion on MoDOT routes.

In 2015, the City completed the widening of Route 109 between Clayton Road and Route 100 from two to four lanes. The construction included roundabouts at Pond Grover Loop Road and the westbound Route 100 ramps, as well as two grade-separated pedestrian crossings. This project left the Route 109 bridge over Route 100 to carry one lane in each direction, with signal control on the eastbound ramp intersection.

Recognizing a need to continue widening to the south and the desire to improve the safety and performance of the eastbound Route 100 ramp intersection, the City acquired a Cost Share funding package through MoDOT. This funding would widen Route 109 from the Route 100 bridge to just north of Old Manchester Road to four lanes and would construct two additional roundabouts along the corridor: one at the eastbound ramps, and one at Main Street, as well as the modification of the existing roundabout at the westbound ramps.

Around the same time, the City was looking for ways to connect its expanding trail network to the west, which meant crossing Route 109. Trail users could access the northeast, northwest, and southeast quadrants of the project through grade-separated facilities, but venturing into the southwest quadrant meant crossing Route 109 either at the eastbound Route 100 or the Old Manchester Road signals. Seizing an opportunity for Transportation Alternative Project Funding (TAP), the City acquired federal funding to construct a grade-separated crossing of Route 109 near the Route 100 eastbound ramps intersection.

The final piece of the project came in 2016 when MoDOT programmed the rehabilitation of the existing Route 109 bridge over Route 100 and included it with this project. The bridge deck and approach slabs had reached the end of their service life, presenting the ideal opportunity to eliminate the expansion joints at each end of the bridge by converting the stub end bents to a semi-integral end bents. Additional rehabilitation effort would include substructure repairs, bearing replacements, and cleaning and recoating the steel superstructure.

The City of Wildwood, working in partnership with HR Green, was able to successfully implement its vision for the Route 109 Corridor using creative funding mechanisms, and overcoming several design challenges and other site-related obstacles along the way.