Work Begins at Hollister to Build
New Route 65/Business 65 Interchange

MoDOT, District 8, Springfield -- Construction of a new U.S. 65/Business 65 interchange at Hollister is set to begin on Monday, October 18, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

A groundbreaking to kick off the project is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday on Gage Drive on the west side Route 65 off of Taney County Route V between Route 65 and the entrance to College of the Ozarks.

A contractor crew will begin clearing trees and brush along Route 65 north of the existing Route V/Business 65 intersection. This work will take place AWAY from traffic.

The widening project will mean that several city streets will no longer have direct access to Route 65. A portion of existing Route 165 will be taken over by the City of Hollister and Taney County and will be re-named Historic Route 165.

The project includes building a new overpass north of the new interchange that will carry Business Route 65 over Route 65.

In addition, Route 65 will be widened to four lanes along 1.6 miles -- between a point 3,000 feet north of the existing Route V/Business 65 intersection and a point south of the existing Route 65/165 intersection.

The project is being made possible through a partnership involving MoDOT, the City of Hollister and Taney County.

Hollister is contributing $6.5 million and Taney County government is contributing $3 million.

The prime contractor for the job is W.A. Ellis Construction of Independence, the low bidder at $19.2 million.

(For more information, call MoDOT in Springfield at 417-895-7600 or toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT.)