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The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) recently authorized $9 million in federal stimulus funds to construct a bridge in Columbia that would carry the Columbia Terminal Railroad’s (COLT) track over Highway 63. MoDOT will receive about $525 million in federal stimulus funding to address transportation needs statewide.

In 2007, TranSystems Corp. completed a study analyzing the feasibility of building a grade separation to eliminate a busy COLT/Highway 63 grade crossing. One recommended option: the construction of a new bridge across the highway.

The bridge currently is in the design phase. The city of Columbia plans to complete engineering work, seek bids, select a contractor and start construction by June 15.

Owned by the city of Columbia and operated by Columbia Water and Light, COLT provides rail service from a mainline in Centralia to Columbia. The short line was formed in 1987 after Norfolk Southern Corp. decided to no longer serve Columbia.