Current & Future Projects
| Current Projects | Future Projects | Project History | Projects out for Bid |
Current Projects
City making good progress on construction of box culverts
The City of Rolla's Streets Department is finishing construction and installation on several large concrete box culverts at Dutro Carter Creek on O Highway near the intersection of Sycamore Street.
These culverts are among nine other box culvert projects associated with the flood control improvements identified in the City's 10-year Capital Improvement Plan implemented in June 2005. These along with the six new storm water retention facilities that are either finished or under construction, will be completed by December of this year. The other nine box culverts are located at: Old St. James Road, Forum Drive, Pauline Lane, Chestnut Drive, Elm Street, Rolla Street, Highway "O" (Deible Branch) and 
Meadowbrook Drive. All of these box culverts except one of the culverts on Rolla Street and one on Pauline Lane, are installed.
The replacement of the box culverts will result in improvements that will greatly reduce the risk of streets being flooded and impassable during heavy storms.
The total cost of these improvements was funded by a no-tax-increase bond issue of $3 million and a $180,000 Missouri Department of Transportation Grant. These bonds will be retired using the existing ½ cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax.
New storm water retention facilities aid economic development
Most everyone is aware of the importance that the City's infrastructure such as streets, roads, water lines, sewage systems and storm water retention facilities play in the quality of life that Rolla residents enjoy.
That said, I'd like to bring to the community's attention and awareness to the efforts of the Public Works Department over the last three years to oversee the planning and construction of no less than six large storm water retention facilities throughout the community.
The construction of these retention facilities are helping the City address issues related to storm water retention, flood control improvements and the growing need for storm sewer system upgrades. Since most of these storm water detention facilities are located in hard-to-access areas, however, they are unfortunately not easily seen or appreciated by the public.
The six storm water facilities I'm referring to include: Tory Park Detention Facility (located just east of the Forum Cinema off Tory Avenue); the Bray Sports Complex Detention Facility located adjacent to the Rolla High School (the ball field doubles as a dry detention facility – protecting downstream homes from possible flooding); the Taylor Anderson Detention Facility (located east of Silverleaf Subdivision, off of Lions Club Drive); Vichy Road Storm water Detention Facility (located east of Silverleaf Subdivision, off of Lions Club Drive); White Columns Drive Detention Facility (located west of White Columns Drive and north of Chapman Drive) and the RCDC Storm water Detention Facility (located at the west end of Industrial Park Drive).
Other projects associated with these flood control improvements identified in the City's 10–year Capital Improvement Plan implemented in June 2005 include the construction of 10 box culverts. These along with the six storm water retention facilities, will be completed by December of this year. The total cost of these improvements was funded by a no-tax-increase bond issue of $3 million and a $180,000 Missouri Department of Transportation Grant. These bonds will be retired using the existing ½ cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax.
While the paramount benefit of storm water detention improvements will ultimately remove nearly 200 homes from the 100-year flood plain, the economic development benefits derived should not be overlooked. These vast improvements to storm water retention are also paving the way for more prosperity in the City of Rolla and enhancing our quality of life through additional recreational opportunities such as the dry detention facility at the Bray Sports Complex and new park opportunities along Lions Club Drive. In addition to these flood control benefits, the City has added 120 acres of open space and conservation area to preserve and enhance Rolla's sensitive eco-systems.
Infrastructure upgrades and improvements such as new storm water detention facilities, roads and sidewalks are all areas that prospective developers, real estate investors and contractors look closely at when considering which areas in a region they might want to invest, build or expand in.
With the assistance of engineering consultants, the City has also identified over 30 neighborhoods that have localized storm water drainage problems. These projects, which are part of the Public Works' annual street and storm sewer maintenance activities, are being prioritized in terms of severity, street maintenance schedule and availability of funds. The City appreciates the community's patience and cooperation as we continue to address these very important improvements.
Although many of these storm water retention improvements are not easily seen, I hope that the community will recognize the value and importance of the large scale infrastructure improvements that continue to be made in the City of Rolla.
Future Projects
Phase I of Deible Loop Pedestrian Bike path in design phase
With heavy use of the ACORN Trail – Rolla's pedestrian/bike path network – among the Rolla community, residents will be pleased that the new Deible Loop Pedestrian Bike path will add three miles to the ACORN Trail.
The Deible Loop Pedestrian Bike path will be very similar in nature to the ACORN Trail and will incorporate a large portion of the south side of town into the existing facility. This area has seen tremendous residential growth over the last several years and comprises a majority of the City's "Proposed Urban Growth Area."
The City's Ten Year Capital Improvement Plan provides for the development of several new parks in the south side for which the Deible Loop Trail will serve as a connecting link. Phase I, currently in the design stage, was awarded an enhancement grant in September 2005. It will consist of the construction of 3,413 lineal foot of an eight-foot-wide trail. The north end will connect to the existing ACORN Trail and continue southwest through Ponzer Park, cross Deible Creek and terminate near Sycamore Drive and Lions Club Drive.
The City recently received notification that it has been recommended as a candidate to receive an enhancement grant to complete Phase II of the trail as well. The second phase will provide an additional 5,523 lineal foot of eight-foot pedestrian bike path that will connect numerous areas of existing and future residential development. This portion of the trail will parallel the south side of Deible Creek along its entire length and will pass through the future 25 acre multi-use South side Detention Basin and Park Facility.
The trail will end at the south boundary of Lions Club Park, a 164 acre facility owned and operated by the Rolla Lions Club. All access points, as well as the trail itself, will meet ADA guidelines.
Future phases of the Deible Loop Pedestrian Bike path will continue through Lions Club Park incorporating an existing trail surrounding a freshwater lake, provide access to additional residential areas and will eventually tie back into the ACORN Trail at Green Acres Park.
Once completed, the addition of the Deible Loop Pedestrian Bike path will significantly add to the City's outstanding park system and further enhance our community's quality of life.
Project History
TEA 21 Sidewalk Improvements / Bike Path Phase V
Part of the City's ongoing sidewalk improvement efforts, these projects are based on the latest round of funding from the federal TEA21 (formerly ISTEA) Grant program. Since first receiving grant money from this program in 1997, the City has constructed nearly 9 miles of walking/biking paths stretching all across Rolla.
The TEA21 Sidewalk Improvements project consists of the installation of sidewalks on one side of Highway 63 from Highway 72 to Cedar Streets, on Poole Avenue from Twelfth Street to Fourteenth Street and along McCutchen Drive from Tenth Street to Liberty Lane. In addition, a gateway entrance sign for downtown Rolla will be placed at the northeast corner of Highway 63 and Kingshighway on property leased from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Phase V of the Bike Path project, also financed in part through a TEA21 grant, will extend the bike path from Tenth Street and Forum Drive east along the south side of Tenth Street to Lovers Lane. In addition to the bike path, the Public Works Department is partnering once again with MoDOT to upgrade Tenth Street from McCutchen Drive to just past Suncliff Greenhouse and Nursery. These upgrades will consist of new curb and gutter and a center turn lane.
RFQ's, projects & items out for bid...
The city of Rolla is currently requesting bids and/or quotes for the following: