Graves and Blunt Announce East Locust Creek Reservoir Project to receive nearly $13.5 million BUILD Grant

Washington, DC –  Today, North Missouri Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06), Ranking Member for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission in Sullivan County has received a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grant, or BUILD grant.

The North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission will receive a nearly $13.5 million BUILD grant for the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project.

“I am thrilled that the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project has received a BUILD grant. This is a great example of the renewed focus that President Trump and Secretary Chao have placed on improving rural infrastructure,” said Graves.

“The East Locust Creek Reservoir Project is highly deserving of this grant as it is critical for the water needs of North Missouri. This funding will help complete many of the transportation improvements needed around the reservoir, bringing the project another step closer to completion. Congratulations to Brad Scott and all those who continue to work tirelessly to successfully complete this project,” Graves said.

Utilizing the BUILD grant, Sullivan County will complete a variety of road projects including Highway N relocation below the East Locust Creek Reservoir dam, Highway VV extension to Knob Hill Road, and 4,000 feet of improvements to intersections and turning lanes on Highway 5 for safety. The grant will also be applied to widening and reinforcing gravel roads, many of them currently one lane, around the lake to accommodate the significant increase in traffic in the area.

Projects for BUILD were evaluated based on safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, state of good repair, innovation and partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders.

Blunt Announces Nearly $13.5 Million Grant for East Locust Creek Reservoir Project

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded Sullivan County, Mo., a nearly $13.5 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant for the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project. The funding will be used to relocate Highway N to below the dam and extend Highway VV to Knob Hill Road, and to make safety improvements to Highway 5. Blunt sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao earlier this year urging funding for the project.

“North Central Missouri’s water shortage is increasing costs and disrupting the lives of families, farmers, and business owners,” said Blunt. “This BUILD Grant will help expedite the completion of this critical infrastructure project, providing a much-needed, long-term solution for local communities. I appreciate the hard work the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission and local leaders have done to secure this investment, and I thank Secretary Chao for making this project a priority. I look forward to continuing our work to improve Missouri’s transportation infrastructure.”

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Blunt has led efforts to secure resources for the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project. Blunt was in Milan in August for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service’s announcement that the project would receive an additional $5.6 million, which was included in the Blunt-backed FY2019 funding bill.

In August 2018, Blunt announced that the USDA invested $20 million in the project to prepare the dam’s site, access corridors, and other key infrastructure for the next phase of construction.

Blunt has successfully worked to include resources for the project in the FY2016, FY2017, FY2018, and FY2019 government funding bills.