More than a year ago, the Seneca R-7 School District purchased a slice of property to allow access to the elementary from old Highway 60.
The idea was that a road bridging the two would alleviate traffic congestion, but so far, costs for the project have kept it on hold.
During their regular meeting on Thursday night, the Seneca School Board received an offer from King Construction to cut a road through the property. The construction company is working on a housing project on the northwest edge of the property and a road would benefit both parties.
The road will cut through Little Lost Creek and, if they don’t disturb the bottom of the creek, they’ve got the go ahead. Superintendent Rick Cook checked with Army Corps of Engineers and received their approval. A representative of the Department of Natural Resources said if they disturbed less than an acre of ground they did not need a permit. A 20-foot wide road would disturb 3/10 of an acre of ground. Total cost of the road would be $35,000.
“We’re trying to go that direction and this is a very cheap way to go that direction,” Cook told the board.
Board members discussed the road as something that could be good in the long run. They eventually decided to support the effort so others in the community could see the benefit it would bring. Short term they are concerned about liability and the road will be gated.
Estimates for a bridge for future expansion of the project vary. The county engineer told the district it would cost $500,000 to build a necessary bridge. Another estimate from a box culvert maker came in at a 10th of that, but was not a firm bid.
Topsoil from the project can be used to level out the football practice field. They expect it to yield 70 to 80 loads of topsoil. Any excess could be sold.
Seneca, Mo. —
