Senator Eric Schmidtt has informed the City of Warsaw that the community has received a $24,997,004 RAISE grant. The strength of this grant application is the communities 25-year continuous effort to improve its Drake Harbor Water front park, the revitalized downtown, and combining this with a detailed planning process to develop its three primary roadways into Complete Streets. The grant will provide the funds to link the three roadways, through the downtown, to the waterfront trails with expansion of one of the trails. A unique feature is a stormwater mitigation area on the Town Branch that will also incorporate a park area known as Light Plant Park.
Warsaw sits on the 90-mile marker of the Lake of the Ozarks and is just one mile downstream of Truman Dam and Reservoir. Connecting to U.S. Route 65 (US 65) and Missouri Route 7 (Route 7) in three locations, the roadway segments included in the project span across the city to complete two east-west routes and one north-south route. These improvements will facilitate visitor traffic coming into the city from the major highways as well as local circulation, creating safe links to neighborhoods, schools, retail areas, and recreation and nature nodes. The improvements also extend Warsaw’s natural water amenities from the Marina District into the community by protecting and expanding on natural wetland areas. The map below details the project extents and connecting infrastructure.
The project is intended to improve safety and livability in the community by reconstructing the roadways to accommodate parking, bicycles, ADA-compliant sidewalks, curbing, and pavement striping. Our Complete Streets approach will address current shortcomings in disability access, safe routes to school, and citizen’s health and recreation benefits by providing bike and pedestrian access to the City’s trail system along the waterfront. The current ditch-stormwater collection system will be replaced with integrated green stormwater infrastructure and an enclosed storm sewer system to mitigate street flooding and promote environmental sustainability. Intersection improvements, new drive approaches, and center turn lanes where feasible will address access and intersection safety challenges. For detailed information go to www.welcometowarsaw.com
The following is a detailed description of the improvements.
Main Street
Main Street serves as the key connecting roadway from the Marina District to the surrounding highways, with the proposed improvements extending from Route 7 to US 65. Main Street parallels the waterfront for the entirety of the city, making it the primary route for access to the Lake of the Ozarks/Osage River, Drake Harbor, Steamboat Landing, and the trail system. Improving connections to Jackson and Commercial Streets will provide two alternative access routes from both highways to the Marina District, lightening the traffic burden on Main Street. Main Street includes 1.46 miles of Complete Street improvements including a widened street section to facilitate sidewalks, bike lanes, and a center turn lane. It also features the replacement of a 5-legged intersection at Jackson Street with a roundabout. Permeable paver parking lanes are included through portions of the downtown to provide on-street parking while also sustainably managing stormwater. Additionally, the previously completed
section of this roadway from Seminary Street to State Street will receive new crosswalks and the asphalt will be milled and overlaid.
Jackson Street
Jackson Street serves as another primary east-west route through Warsaw and as the through connection to the expanding residential development in the northwest portion of the City. Jackson Street will provide enhanced access to all other segments of the project. Improvements extend from the proposed Main-Jackson Street roundabout to Kennedy Drive. This will connect new residential development to the Marina District. Jackson Street improvements include 1.01 miles of Complete Streets with sidewalks, bike lanes, and permeable paver parking areas providing residents living along this highly traveled roadway additional on-street parking.
Commercial Street
Commercial Street is the main north-south route that extends through the entirety of Warsaw. The improvements expand from Harrison Street to north of Truman Dam Access Road, providing a connection between the two largest retail districts in the City. Commercial Street also intersects the Jackson and Main Street improvements and provides direct connection to the proposed stormwater mitigation wetland. Commercial Street consists of 2.13 miles of Complete Street improvements including new sidewalks, bike lanes, and green stormwater infrastructure planters providing stormwater management, additional green space, and
enhanced safety buffers between the roadway/bike lanes and the pedestrian areas. A center turn lane will be added to the Commercial-Polk Street intersection as well.
Osage Trail Extension
Warsaw’s existing trail system provides both recreational opportunities for tourists and alternate pathways for
residents to move around the city. The existing Osage Trail begins downtown at the Steamboat Landing boardwalk, follows Levee Road along the Osage River, and dead ends at US 65. The proposed boardwalk extension would then pick up at US 65 and expand to the City of Warsaw Industrial Park, just north of where Main Street transitions into the US 65 Outer Road. This will extend the trail an additional 0.53 miles and create a continuous connected loop for active transportation users.
Stormwater Mitigation Wetland
As part of the stormwater management, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation strategy for the roadway improvements, a stormwater mitigation wetland is included along the existing Town Branch Creek corridor, located near the Jackson-Commercial Street intersection. This feature not only manages stormwater runoff generated from the roadway projects, but provides numerous community, water quality, and other environmental benefits by protecting and enhancing the natural riparian and wetland habitat along the existing creek. The stormwater mitigation wetland will include water features, native plantings, and park-like amenities such as pathways, LED lighting, and open space.
