Duquesne, the small community neighboring Joplin to the east, will receive $2 million for road repairs in relation to damage following the 2011 tornado.
Gov. Jay Nixon visited the town Friday on the 4th anniversary of the E-F5 tornado that struck the region, killing 161 and destroying or damaging 8,000 homes and businesses.
Nixon said the money will “repair roads in Duquesne that were damaged by the expedited removal of debris in the weeks and months following the tornado.”
Repairs will include Duquesne Road and 20th Street, reconstruction of storm water piping and raised shoulders to match the new pavement as needed. The funding through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is being administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Nixon said following the tornado, heavy trucks and equipment used streets primarily serving residential areas in Duquesne for expedited debris removal. They were not designed to take the loads being hauled through and out of, he said, resulting in significant damage.
In addition, Nixon noted new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau that show Joplin’s population has officially exceeded its pre-tornado levels. In 2014, the city had a population of 51,316, up from 51,142 in 2011.
“Over the past four years, the people of this area have worked incredibly hard to keep this region moving forward—rebuilding it better and stronger than it was before,” said the Governor. “Joplin, instead of contracting, as many feared as a result of the tornado, is continuing to grow and thrive.”