Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) announced today that the Missouri Department of Conservation will receive a $144,900 grant to replace a road crossing over the Niangua River in Dallas County.  The grant will be made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will be distributed through the U.S. Department of Interior.

          “Missourians will see work begin on an important road replacement project in Dallas County.  The new free span bridge over the Niangua River will mean jobs in rural Missouri and reduced maintenance costs for the county.  This is exactly why it was important for Congress to pass the Recovery Act,” said Skelton.

          Once the road crossing project is complete, 26 miles of the Niangua River will be reconnected.  This will benefit resident fish species, including the federally threatened Niangua darter.

          More information about the U.S. Department of Interior’s Recovery funding is available by visiting recovery.doi.gov and at recovery.gov.  

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Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) serves as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee . For further information, please contact Rebecca Loving or Whitney Frost at 202-225-2876, or check Congressman Skelton’s website at http://www.house.gov/skelton.