The project will eliminate a major at-grade crossing on the bnsf cherokee subdivision ? A vital thoroughfare for national and regional freight movement ? In rural monett, missouri

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded the City of Monett, Missouri $7,839,399 on October 1, 2025, to eliminate an at-grade crossing on the BNSF Cherokee Subdivision in rural Monett through construction of a concrete girder bridge carrying Chapell Drive over the rail corridor.

The project delivers a 36-foot-wide driving surface with a 5-foot sidewalk, 42-inch Type D pedestrian railing, improvements to an existing three-cell culvert to accommodate additional fill for the north approach, and curb, gutter, and storm sewer infrastructure to manage water runoff from the new structure. The work improves highway safety and traffic flows, reduces vehicle emissions, and eliminates the risk of highway-rail grade crossing accidents at this vital thoroughfare for national and regional freight movement. The project was identified in the City of Monett Comprehensive Plan and is included in the Missouri Highway-Rail Grade Crossing State Action Plan (January 2022 draft) and the City of Monett Transportation Improvement Plan (adopted July 2015). Performance of work occurs in Monett, Missouri, with completion targeted for August 31, 2027. A public-private partnership supports the project.

IT will improve highway safety and traffic flows, decrease vehicle emissions; mitigate a physical barrier within the community that is posed by the rail corridor; and eliminate the risk of future highway-rail grade crossing accidents and incidents along this portion of the rail corridor through the elimination of an existing at-grade crossing. The project was originally envisioned in the city of monett comprehensive plan when IT was identified as a critical local improvement to benefit the community. The project is now included in the january 2022 draft of the missouri highway-rail grade crossing state action plan as well as the city of monett transportation improvement plan adopted in july 2015. The improvements in the scope of this project include; concrete girder bridge to carry chapell drive above bnsf on an overpass, 36-foot-wide driving surface with a 5-foot sidewalk, 42-inch type d barriers (bridge pedestrian railing), existing three-cell culvert extending both directions to accommodate additional fill for the north approach, and curb, gutter, and storm sewers to collect additional water runoff from the new structure. A public-private partnership has been assembled to support the…