I-57 MoDOT Funding Freeze

MoDOT’s Inaction on U.S. 67

Sparks Outrage, Puts Lives at Risk

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is facing mounting criticism for its failure to act on a fully funded $150 million plan to improve U.S. Highway 67 through Butler County—despite overwhelming legislative support and urgent safety concerns.

State leaders, including Senator Jason Bean and Representative Hardy Billington, fought tirelessly to secure the appropriation, successfully pushing it through a tough 2025 budgetary process. However, despite the money being appropriated last session, MoDOT has refused to move forward, leaving critical infrastructure improvements stalled and local residents in danger.

“This isn’t just bureaucratic delay—it’s a reckless disregard for public safety,” said Billington, condemning MoDOT’s inaction. “This project was mandated, not suggested, yet they are ignoring it.”

A Highway of Hazards

The dangers of U.S. 67 are well-documented, with its narrow lanes, heavy 18-wheeler traffic, and congestion posing a persistent threat to Butler County’s 43,000 residents. The deadly March 22, 2024, head-on collision north of Neelyville, which claimed four lives, serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of inaction.

Lawmakers first championed the U.S. 67 expansion in 2018, with momentum culminating in 2024, when the Missouri Senate added $60 million in General Revenue funds and $90 million in highway funds for the project. The $60 million was initially cut in the House by Speaker Dean Plocher and Budget Chair Cody Smith before being restored after Billington and Bean explained the project's importance to House leaders.

HCS HB 2004 was passed by the Senate with a decisive 25-8 vote, while the House followed with a 120-16 supermajority. The full $150 million was supported by Governor Mike Parson, who signed the bill into law on June 28, 2024.

The legislation explicitly earmarks funds “for the planning, design, right-of-way acquisition, utility improvements and relocation, upgrades, and construction” of U.S. 67—leaving no ambiguity about MoDOT’s responsibility. The targeted stretch, running from Neelyville to the Arkansas state line, is a crucial segment of the Future I-57 corridor.

MoDOT’s Silence and Stalling Tactics

Billington added, “Despite clear legislative intent and full funding, MoDOT has failed to take action, raising serious concerns about the agency’s priorities and accountability to Missouri’s elected officials.”

Officials have questioned whether federal permitting issues, cost overruns, or a diversion of focus toward Interstate 70 are to blame. However, MoDOT has remained silent on the matter, refusing to provide a transparent explanation for the holdup.

Senator Bean has also voiced frustration over the agency’s lack of urgency, given the human toll of continued delays. Last summer, Governor Parson and then-Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, along with other elected officials and MoDOT representatives, came to Poplar Bluff for a ceremonial signing of HB 2004 to announce funding for the completion of Highway 67. MoDOT outlined its initial plans at https://rebrand.ly/9xrt3gw.

On Tuesday, Billington alerted Governor Kehoe to MoDOT’s announcement that they would not allocate the $90 million in highway funds to complete Highway 67. Kehoe responded immediately, meeting with Billington and indicating his support for pushing MoDOT to include the funding in the project plans.

“I’m so thankful for Governor Kehoe’s help and support,” Billington said. “As soon as he learned what was going on, he met with me and started working on ways to fix the problem.”

Economic and Safety Benefits Left in Limbo

Beyond safety, the expansion of U.S. 67 represents a major economic opportunity for Southeast Missouri. Widening the highway to four lanes, upgrading bridges, and improving infrastructure could transform Poplar Bluff into a regional economic hub while enhancing connectivity for rural communities like Neelyville. Yet, with MoDOT dragging its feet, these benefits remain out of reach.

As the 2025 legislative session approaches, state lawmakers are preparing to escalate efforts to force MoDOT’s hand. Majority Chief Whip Billington has obtained the signatures of Representatives Brown, Parker, Elliott, and Jordan (all Southeast Missouri representatives) on a letter to MoDOT. The letter states, in part:

“We, the undersigned State Representatives from Southeast Missouri, write to emphasize the critical importance of prioritizing funding for Highway 60 improvements and the completion of the four-lane expansion of Highway 67 to the Arkansas state line. With the passage and signing of HB 2004, the Missouri Legislature and Governor have committed $60 million in General Revenue funds and $90 million in highway funds for these essential infrastructure projects…We demand immediate action on doing what the duly elected state officials have already budgeted for. Every day you delay improving Highway 67, our economy suffers, and the safety of our roads is diminished.”

Billington summed up the situation, stating, “With $150 million sitting unused and fatal crashes continuing to occur, MoDOT’s refusal to act is no longer just a bureaucratic oversight—it is a crisis demanding accountability.”