Aldermen approved a motion last week authorizing Mayor Dale Verges to send a letter to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) showing the city's willingness to keep the project moving after speaking with Richard Domzalski, Northeast District transportation manager. Domzalski said a written notice was needed to show the city would take over and maintain the old Route D. MoDOT would then maintain the new Route D at One Street. The Route D reroute agreement is also part of a plan to replace the Tuque Creek Bridge located on Route 47 south of Marthasville. The Route D reroute also will serve as a detour for traffic during construction. Domzalski said the bridge is expected to be replaced in the summer of 2011 and the project shouldn't last more than three months. It's likely the Route D reroute will happen much sooner, but an exact timetable was unknown, according to Domzalski. "I would like to move on that immediately and get Route D moved," Verges said. Don Sherman, a Marthasville Community Club representative, is worried One Street will see more traffic next to the city's ball fields once the reroute is completed. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the summer when the fields are swarming with area youth, Sherman noted. "You have kids running across the street," he told aldermen. "It's a safety issue." The current Route D includes four 90-degree turns on South, Five, Depot and One streets. The reroute would include two such turns at the intersection located at the Twin Gables bar and S&R Convenience gas station and another at the intersection of One and Main streets. "I don't think we have a choice other than reroute traffic through (One Street) because of the corners we have," Alderman Jim Struckhoff said. To help decrease the chance of an accident near the community club, the agreement also states MoDOT will be responsible for installing a 4-foot woven wire fence along the west side of One Street adjacent to the ball fields. Sherman, however, also was concerned the fence might cause less room for parking at the community club and impede any expansion should the organization want to purchase land across the street for additional fields. Should the fence be installed, Verges noted, it could be taken down once the bridge construction is complete. "The safety issue was my first concern and my initial thought is that you put in a fence," Verges explained. Mike Peters, a part-time city employee, suggested to Domzalski that MoDOT install signs around Warrenton to help divert heavier traffic from traveling on Route 47 and using Route D when the bridge is being replaced. Two alternatives - Route 19 and Route T - were discussed. Due to the increased traffic, MoDOT will also be responsible for any needed repairs to Route D either before, or most likely Domzalski added, after the bridge construction is complete. In other news from last Wednesday's meeting, Marthasville aldermen also looked over bids covering three phases of a project to alleviate an erosion problem around South Street near St. Paul's United Church of Christ and downhill near One Street. Last month, the board requested to Lewis-Bade, Inc. to break down its overall bid of $102,100 to three separate projects. The first phase was expected to cost nearly $38,000. The second phase would be near $23,000. After discussing the project briefly, aldermen decided to check with Booneslick Regional Planning Commission to see if any emergency funds are available. Aldermen also tabled a decision after receiving one bid for two used police cars. The bid was for $363 for a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria and $463 for a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria. Aldermen also renewed the city's insurance through Tri-County Agency from Warrenton. The approved bid of $16,131 was a 10 percent decrease off last year's premium.