"A scoping project is what we define as a pre-engineering study," said MoDOT District 3 Engineer Paula Gough. "We're considering a range of options as to what we can potentially do to make that area safer." The study will review topography, soil conditions, pavement types and traffic data as well as cost estimates on what it would take to improve the approximately one-mile stretch of highway. Highway 47 is the primary north-south state route through Warren County. It runs between Warrenton and the Marthasville/Dutzow areas. The Hopewell Hill area is a narrow stretch of highway without shoulders and two extreme S-curves. Drivers often complain about wide 18-wheel tractor trailers taking up both their own lane and part of the opposite lane as they negotiate the hilly, winding highway, according to MoDOT officials. "It's been a hazardous traffic area as long as I can remember," said Warren County Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage. Gough said once MoDOT engineers complete their study, which could take as long as another month, they will get together with design staff officials at the District 3 office in Hannibal to discuss their findings. Missouri State Sen. John Griesheimer (R-26) and Rep. Mike Sutherland (R-99), plus Warren County commissioners and Boonslick Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Steve Etcher may also be invited to attend the meetings. "We want to get input from a number of individuals," Gough said. "We want to make this process as comprehensive as we can." Gough said the scoping project will also consider both the short-term and long-term improvements. Those factors include issues such as the slope of the hills in the surrounding areas, drainage and possible right of way easements which might need to be acquired. "The scoping project helps us measure everything, including the feasibility of both straightening the existing road and/or widening it," she observed. "We want to look at every possible horizontal and vertical solution to determine the best way to proceed." One of the components which makes this study more difficult, Gough noted, is the Hopewell Hill area of Highway 47 will require far more information than that of designing a simple bridge or an intersection. "This is a very complex issue," she said. "We feel people would rather we take our time on this study to make sure it gets done right when we do undertake it. "We're not going to just fix this with a Band-Aid solution," Gough added. "Our maintenance staff has already done all that they can do in this instance." Whatever path MoDOT ultimately chooses to take will not be inexpensive, according to Gough, and it's unlikely any project would be undertaken until at least the 2011 or 2012 construction season. "We have a five-year plan at MoDOT which is updated every year," Gough said. "I can tell you that there doesn't appear to be any room whatsoever in our budget within the next two years for this project. "So much is still up in the air at this point. We don't know exactly what we're going to do, so we can't do any sort of cost approximations yet," she continued. Gough did say she anticipates there could be some funding available in MoDOT's proposed 2011 budget. "We are very much aware of trying to develop a cost estimate that is realistic," Gough said. "Our goal is to try to ensure every project MoDOT undertakes comes in at budget." Gough encourages Warren County residents with any questions about the current scoping operation or the project in general to call 1-888-ASK MoDOT for more information.