By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorIn the wake of an ammonia leak that closed a stretch of Interstate 70 and the Highway 47 overpass, outgoing Warrenton Mayor Mike Shilharvey stressed the need for a second interchange.During his final board of aldermen meeting as mayor, Shilharvey said the overpass project needs to remain a priority. He made the comments at the April 21 meeting.He filled in on an interim basis beginning last December after Jerry Dyer stepped down for health reasons. New Mayor Eric Schleuter was sworn in at last week’s meeting.An anhydrous ammonia trailer was being pulled by a pickup truck April 19 on northbound Highway 47 in Warrenton when it broke loose. The trailer then rolled down the embankment to I-70 where both of the 1,000-gallon ammonia tanks began leaking.The interstate and the stretch of Highway 47, including the overpass that connects the north and south sides of the city, were closed for a five-hour period. The incident caused a major traffic backup.Shilharvey said the incident pointed out the problem of the city having only one overpass.“One thing I would like to put back on the forefront of people’s minds is the second interchange,” he said. “I would hope somewhere down the road . . . we missed a heck of a good chance last year. I think the city needs to start thinking about working in that direction again.”In March 2014, a plan to initiate a transportation development district (TDD) along Interstate 70 using a 1-cent sales tax was shot down after citizens in the proposed district unanimously voted against it.The city sought the TDD and the sales tax to help secure funding for a second Warrenton interchange near the 191-mile marker, on the western side of the city.The total cost of the new interchange was projected to be approximately $15 million. The proposal called for a cost-sharing arrangement, with the city and MoDOT sharing the cost.The special election involved just 13 eligible voters who resided within the proposed TDD district. Only 10 residents actually applied to vote and returned ballots.The proposed TDD and sales tax hike was met with strong opposition from the owners of businesses situated within the taxing district, who filed a lawsuit in an unsuccessful attempt to block it.Shilharvey said the aftermath of the ammonia leak could have been much worse had I-70 motorists collided with the tanks and caused damage to the overpass that would have forced closure of it. The closest overpasses are about four miles to the east at Stracks Church Road and five miles to the west at the Pendleton/Truxton interchange.“I think we need to start looking and working to get support for another interchange,” Shilharvey remarked. “Not just for economic development reasons, but now it’s a safety issue . . . These are things we need to start thinking about in the future.”Staff Writer Sarah Johnson provided information for this story.Outgoing mayor: Overpass is a priority