Traffic headed east on portions of the famed Branson Strip (State Highway 76) in Branson from Monday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30 should expect a lane change from the east bound lane into the center turn lane during the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) said the rerouting is part of a $680,000 project being funded with stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment to build 393 sidewalk ramps meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
A drive down Highway 76 the morning of October 26, by a representative of the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging, indicates that the lane change will cause minimal if any inconvenience to Branson visitors. Currently the project is in the final stages, is located on the south side of Highway 76 east of its intersection with Fall Creek Road and is proceeding eastward towards its intersection with Roark Valley Road. This area is well out of the Branson Strip’s primary theatre and entertainment area.
Although the current location of the project and its hours of operation probably make an alternative route unnecessary, the completion of the Fall Creek Road extension north to its end at the intersection of Roark Valley Road provides a convenient alternate north/south route that will avoid the project area on Highway 76. Exit Highway 65 onto Highway 248 and proceed west to its intersection with James F. Epps Highway at McDonalds. Turn south on Epps and follow it south through its intersection with Roark Valley Road where it turns into Fall Creek Road on the south side of that intersection. Continue south on Fall Creek Road until its intersection with Highway 76. That intersection will be west of the project area.
According to the initial MODOT press releases, the project should be completed by November 20.
