Knox County Road, Bridge Projects Included in New MoDOT Five-Year Plan

Knox County is set to see about $20.7 million in highway and bridge projects move toward construction under Missouri’s newly approved 2027-2031 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the five-year STIP on July 1. The plan lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. Statewide, the STIP makes available $13 billion in federal and state revenue for all modes of transportation, including $9.3 billion in contractor awards for road and bridge construction.

The STIP is MoDOT’s five-year road map for transportation improvements. It is considered a fiscally constrained plan, meaning projects listed for construction are tied to funding MoDOT expects to have available. MoDOT works with planning partners across the state to identify needs, set priorities and determine which projects can be funded. A draft version of the 2027-2031 STIP was released in May for public review, and MoDOT received 65 comments before the final plan was approved.

For readers, the key distinction is between projects listed in the highway and bridge construction schedule and those still in the scoping and design stage. Construction-schedule projects are programmed for work such as engineering, right of way or construction during the five-year STIP period. Scoping and design projects are potential future projects and are not yet commitments to build.

Seven Knox County projects are listed in the approved highway and bridge construction schedule.

The largest is a $5.619 million bridge improvement on Route 6 over the South Fork South Fabius River, 0.2 mile north of Route 6 near Edina. The project involves bridge H0770. MoDOT lists the award date as 2028, with construction funding programmed in the 2027-28 fiscal year. The project is listed to be let with another Knox County bridge project, NE0208.

MoDOT also lists a $5.612 million Route 11 pavement resurfacing project from Route 15 near Baring to Route 129 in Linn County. The work includes three disconnected sections. The project has an award date of September 2026, with construction funding programmed in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

A $2.315 million Route 15 bridge improvement is planned over Rock Creek, 0.4 mile south of Route 6 near Edina. The project involves bridge H0771 and is scheduled for a 2028 award, with construction funding programmed in the 2027-28 fiscal year. That project is listed to be let with the Route 6 bridge project near Edina.

A $2.775 million Route K bridge replacement is planned over the Middle Fabius River, 0.5 mile east of Route V near Colony. The project involves bridge X0617. MoDOT lists the award date as January 2027, with construction funding programmed in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Two other bridge projects are scheduled for 2027 awards. A $1.765 million Route BB bridge improvement is planned over North River, 1.1 miles south of Route 15. The project involves bridge P0989. A $1.249 million Route F bridge improvement is planned over the Little Fabius River, 3.3 miles west of Route 15 near Hurdland. That project involves bridge P0400. Both projects have construction funding programmed in the 2027-28 fiscal year.

MoDOT also lists a $1.321 million Route 15 pavement preservation treatment from the Route 6 north junction at Edina to Route 168 in Shelbyville in Shelby County. The project has an award date of January 2027, with construction funding programmed in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Together, the seven approved Knox County construction-schedule projects total about $20.656 million.

The STIP also includes one Knox County project in the scoping and design stage. That project is a possible Route V bridge improvement over Little Bridges Creek, 0.7 mile south of Route AA near Knox City. The project involves bridge T0965 and carries a future cost range of $1.001 million to $2 million.

Because the Route V project is listed in the scoping and design section, it is not yet approved for construction. It would have to move through further planning, prioritization and selection before being added to a future construction schedule.