When traveling down MO Route 13, or from U.S. 50 to the University of Central Missouri’s campus in Warrensburg, many people use Maguire Street as their main path of transportation. Over the past decade, the “Maguire Street Corridor Project” has been in the works through Warrensburg’s Public Works department, leading to the current construction on the road.
“However, the ‘Rethink Maguire’ project in its current form really took shape after voters approved $17M of G.O. Bonds in 2021 for roadway improvements,” said Interim Public Works Director Phil Adlich.
With the procurement of the project beginning as early as Sept. 2023, the area being updated encompasses Maguire Street from Cooper Boulevard north of the U.S. 50 interchange to Broad Street. After doing multiple traffic studies, the goal of this project was established—to update water, gas and sewage utilities, improve traffic flow for safer travel for both drivers and pedestrians, widen sidewalks and create community spaces alongside the roadway.
“The project also aligns with several goals in the City’s strategic plan concerning
economic development, community growth and infrastructure,” said Public Works Project Manager Joe Clifford.
With the construction of utility infrastructure beginning in late 2024, the citizens of Warrensburg have been impacted by the road blockages throughout the project’s zone. According to the project’s website, RethinkMaguire.com, the Maguire Street corridor is the highest-volume thoroughfare in the city, with nearly 18,000 trips per day.
“The work on Maguire has caused a local burden and I’m sure that the businesses on that road are feeling that,” said Eric Newsom, a Warrensburg resident of 12 years. “I think this is a case of having to overcome, you know, being individually put out in order to see the collective good, that the work on the street will provide for everybody in town.”
Because of the newfound congestion across Maguire Street’s busiest passage, many citizens have expressed frustration towards the project.
“It’s pretty inconvenient and leads to me having to take back roads to grocery stores and such, it just ends up taking more time,” said Macy Adrian, a Warrensburg resident of two years.
Warrenburg’s Public Works department informed the public about construction plans through the City of Warrensburg website and Facebook page, as well as RethinkMaguire.com, which provides weekly updates on the construction. However, the majority of civilians who were interviewed were unaware of RethinkMaguire.com.
“It’s more difficult in the morning than in the evening. Business at my job was significantly impacted in January and February but has been returning to normal as the construction has shifted down the way,” said Moira Clifton, a Warrensburg resident of 25 years.
This is one of the biggest infrastructure projects the city has ever undergone. The city aims to mitigate the inconveniences caused by the project through implementing detours and providing regular updates to the community, according to Clifford.
The project is currently in the first of three total stages and is estimated to begin its second stage, which involves improving roadwork structures and installing new sidewalks and traffic features, in late April. The construction is currently on schedule.
“This phase will focus on the section from Broad Street to the railroad bridge on Maguire. The next [third] phase of road work, covering the area from Railroad Street to Young Street, is set to begin in July,” said Adlich. “The majority of construction will wrap up in mid-December of this year.”
