By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorProposed improvements to the Highway 47 interchange in Warrenton have been dropped from a revised project list tied to a statewide sales tax measure.MoDOT Area Engineer Erik Maninga said the project was dropped since interchange upgrades are already planned in an effort to widen Interstate 70 to six lanes.As part of the $1.5 billion plan to widen I-70, MoDOT is seeking as many interchange improvements as possible to be included in the design-build bidding process.When MoDOT released the initial project list June 13, it included improvements to the Highway 47 interchange that were not part of the statewide I-70 project.Maninga said it’s possible the Warrenton interchange could be included in the statewide project.“The reason why (it was dropped) is, we didn’t want to let the design-build contractors think we have funding to improve the (Highway) 47-70 interchange,” he said while speaking at a Warrenton Board of Aldermen meeting July 1. “We want to force them to deliver as much as they can for us.”For the work to be funded, voters statewide will have to approve a temporary three-quarter cent sales tax on Aug. 5.The ballot initiative, known as Constitutional Amendment 7, would generate an additional $5.4 billion over a 10-year period. If approved, 90 percent of the revenue would be for state projects, and the other 10 percent would be split between cities and counties. The additional funds would have to be used for transportation projects.Under the proposal, the sales tax increase would not be applied to purchases of medicine, groceries and gasoline. Also, fuel taxes would not increase and toll roads would not be implemented over the 10-year period the tax is in place.MoDOT released a revised project list Monday. The department was required to create the list so voters know what projects will be funded if the sales tax measure passes.The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission was scheduled to vote Wednesday on projects to be financed by if the statewide sales tax measure is approved by voters.MoDOT accepted public comments on the project list until July 3. Maninga said over 800 comments had been received statewide as of July 1.In Warren County, the project list includes replacing the Highway 94 bridge over Treloar Creek and the Highway D bridge over a branch of Tuque Creek. Resurfacing projects that have been identified will occur on Highways O, D, W, and 94.Another project making the list includes adding a turn lane on Highway M at Pinckney Avenue in Truesdale The draft list was compiled from input provided by regional planning members and transportation partners.Officials expect to have around $170 million available to spend in the 17-county Northeast District, which includes Warren County. The figure includes a reduction for inflation.When questioned if all of the projects can be completed within the 10-year time frame, Maninga said, “All these projects will get constructed. What we have listed here, we have committed to complete.”MoDOT