The Federal Highway Administration has granted approval to the city of Warrenton for a second Interstate 70 interchange. The proposed interchange would be constructed just west of the Warrenton Outlet Center in the area of Route MM, according to city officials. On Dec. 16, the city learned the Federal Highway Administration had approved the city's access justification report, a study detailing the need for an additional interchange. "It's the first step toward making this interchange a reality," said Michelle Schlenther, the city's economic development director. The city has been working on the proposed interchange project since it hired Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, a consulting engineering firm, in March. As part of the access justification report, the city and engineers met with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration to discuss and review the proposed scope of the project. Now that an interchange has been approved, Schlenther said funding options are being explored. She said the city will likely propose a cost-share agreement with MoDOT. The next two application deadlines for cost-share projects with MoDOT are Feb. 1 and June 4. The city's proposed new interchange has been well received by both the Federal Highway Administration and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Schlenther said. The additional interchange would help decrease traffic on Highway 47 and provide an additional avenue in and out of the city. It would also open an area for future economic development. "We're very excited for what this could do for our community, economy-wise and safety-wise," Schlenther said. "Trucks wouldn't have to backtrack to (Highway) 47 from Wal-Mart. It would be safer for kids on the school buses. It's a very exciting time and very exciting to see what could come from this." Should something ever happen to the current Highway 47 overpass, the quickest route for motorists to reach the north side of I-70 would be by traveling east to the Stracks Church Road overpass or west to the Highway A/B overpass. City officials also feel a second interchange within the city limits could lead to additional traffic to the outlet center, which has been struggling to attract shoppers and keep stores open. No timetable has been established to have the interchange project started, according to Schlenther. "It would be amazing for the city, just alone for the outlet center," she said. "How many people right now travel past the outlet center? They don't know how to find it or get past it and see it and say, ‘We'll get off at the next exit.' They get down to Flying J and then they don't want to drive back. I think it will spur development along the city. I think it will be great for the city, great for the community as a whole."