Proceed order issued for hospital walking trail

The city of Maryville has issued a "notice to proceed" order for a new pedestrian-and-bicycle trail that will run west from St. Francis Hospital & Health Services until connecting with an existing trail that winds north from Maryville Middle School to the Crestview subdivision.

When completed, the two tails will comprise more than a mile of paved walking surface connecting the South Main Corridor to Maryville High School, Maryville Middle School and residential areas on the southwest end of town.

The hospital-to-middle school trail will consist of 1,400 linear feet of concrete surface approximately 10 feet wide.  

Late last year, the Maryville City Council accepted a bid from Andrew Spire Construction to build the new trail. A $50,000 alternate bid for trail lighting was rejected because it would have exceeded the project's approved cost estimate.

In addition, there were concerns that lights along the trail might interfere with night takeoffs and landings at the hospital's nearby helipad.

Like other trails built inside the city limits over the past few years, the walking path is being mostly funded through the Transportation Enhancement Program administered by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

MoDOT will provide $113,569 of the estimated $141,962 needed for construction — 80 percent of the total cost — with the city adding $28,000 as a local match.

Issuance of the notice to proceed order means the project should be completed within the next 90 days.