A key Missouri Department of Transportation committee earlier this week signed off on a $43 million package to take the Page Avenue extension (Highway 364) westward to just beyond Mid Rivers Mall Drive by 2012.

Ehlmann

That’s in addition to $45 million in state, federal and local money committed earlier this year under the government’s economic stimulus program to completing another segment of the eight-lane road - from just west of Harvester Road to Central School Road. That’s expected to be done in 2011.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann says the Page extension is his top road priority because Highway 94 - which 364 is gradually replacing - is the biggest traffic bottleneck that keeps commuters in the county from getting home quickly each evening after work.

He said extending Page also helps relieve another major traffic snafu in the county - on Interstate 70.

The latest financing package was worked out by Ehlmann; Gary Elmestad, the county’s longtime expert on obtaining road funding; and MoDOT officials.

The state Highways and Transportation Commission still must sign off but that’s expected to be no problem with commission member Grace Nichols, a former St. Charles mayor, carrying the ball on that panel. Approval also is needed by the County Council and St. Peters officials, but that also is likely.

The latest package includes about $32 million from the state, more than $7 million from the federal government and $1.5 million apiece from the county and St. Peters.

Both segments of 364 follow the path of 94 and will widen the roadway to eight lanes from four. There also will be new outer roads and interchanges.

The final phase of 364 - for which money has yet to be secured - will follow a new route from Mid Rivers Mall Drive to Highway 40/Interstate 64.

Ehlmann said the county was in position to get money for the latest segment in large part because it had kept planning underway even though a year ago no one knew where the funding to build it would come from.