Sweet Springs: Boosting new tourism center – Marshall Democrat-News

Written by Whitney Barnes
Staff Writer

Sweet Springs is about to get even better with the arrival of a new Wendy’s travel center and restaurant.

Saline County Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden shared a letter from Road Ranger LLC Monday morning, Oct. 12, confirming that the construction of a new travel center in Sweet Springs is legitimate in the company’s plans. Road Ranger is an Illinois-based chain of travel agencies, truck stops and convenience stores.

“This is great news for Saline County,” Gooden said. “Sweet Springs was informed by the Road Ranger that they wanted to come. After months of trying to work with MoDOT, but to no avail, I contacted Agent (Kurtis) Gregory.”

Gooden arranged a meeting at the site with the Road Ranger, Olseen Engineering, Sweet Springs City officials, MoDOT representatives, Southern District Commissioner Monte Fenner, and Gregory.

“We had everybody to make this happen,” he said. “After this good meeting, MoDOT was still not budging, so I called MoDOT more , including Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger, District Engineer Chris Redline, Director of Government Relations Jay Wunderlich, and Gregory. Representative Gregory scheduled a meeting with the Governor and MoDOT. ”

In that meeting, Gooden said that he had a place to discuss the matter and stressed that the city, as a small town, needs serious development. However, the necessary road improvements required by MoDOT were beyond the city’s budget, so they needed to explore other options.

“Ultimately, a cost-sharing agreement was reached,” Gooden said. “I finished the paperwork, made several presentations in the town of Sweet Springs, and got the cost-sharing permits. I then had to fill out the paperwork for the financing and the LPA process for Sweet Springs. “

The letter shared Monday was a follow-up to an agreement signed by the Road Ranger and the city of Sweet Springs on Oct. 26, 2023. This memorandum related to a cost sharing agreement between the city of Sweet Springs and the Department of Missouri. of Transport. It includes a partnership to make interstate highway improvements, including lowering the hill on US Highway 127 and widening the Interstate 70 exit and entrance ramps on US Highway 127 in the northbound lanes. These improvements are intended to receive MoDOT approval for the Road Ranger access road as submitted.

For the upcoming construction of the Road Rangers travel center, they have to make way for a deceleration and right turn on US Highway 127. This road will connect to their planned route of northbound traffic. from Interstate 70.

“Engineering has begun to assess the area for necessary improvements,” Gooden said.

Road Rangers confirmed in a letter that they plan to move forward with the Sweet Springs travel center — which will include a Wendy’s — on the northeast side of the intersection.

“We are currently putting together our capital investment plans for 2025 and will know soon whether we will start building the facility in 2025 or 2026,” the letter reads. “Regardless of the timing, Sweet Springs is in the long-term development plans for Road Ranger.”

The letter said that, as always, major changes in the economy, changes in financial instruments or other unforeseen factors may affect these plans.

Road Ranger thanked the strong leadership of the Saline County Commission for making this project possible, noting that despite their tireless efforts to work on a collaborative and “win-win” basis, the distribution agreement for costs between MoDOT, Saline County and the city of Sweet Springs would not have. happened.

“Road Ranger looks forward to working with the city of Sweet Springs and Saline County on its travel agency,” the letter concluded.

Gooden said the process took about a year. He hopes that the citizens will recognize the efforts that the commission is making to serve the district and understand that meaningful development takes time.

“This was a big operation that the city could do … on their own,” Gooden said. “I was honored to help and had the skills, knowledge and connections to do so. I am grateful to all involved and happy to be a part of the great development of Saline County.”