Recently, the Missouri Department of Transportation Cost-Share Committee approved splitting the $13,187,000 cost of building a new bridge over Lake Taneycomo, along with a roundabout. The other half of the money will come from Taney County and the cities of Branson and Hollister.

Plans are to build a new bridge downstream from the existing bridge and then repair the old bridge. On the Hollister side, there will be a roundabout.

MoDOT will not have funding for the project available until its 2012 budget. To accelerate the project, the city of Branson is currently working to obtain funding that it could front MoDOT.

This much-needed project will help alleviate traffic congestion in downtown Branson and on the Hollister/East 76 side of Lake Taneycomo.