Senator Jeanie Riddle’s Proposal to Expand Utility Corridors Heard in Committee
JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Callaway County, presented Senate Bill 598 for consideration before the Missouri Senate’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. The legislation requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to expand its utility corridors from six feet wide to 12 feet wide. Telecommunications and utility companies use these corridors to run various cables and other buried utilities to provide services to their customers.
“Our existing utility corridors are extremely cramped and congested and often present challenges when maintenance issues must be addressed,” stated Sen. Riddle. “By requiring the expansion of all utility corridors, telecommunications and utility companies will have easier access to their lines resulting in faster repair times.”
Under the proposal, the maintenance, removal and relocation of any utility located within one of the utility corridors must fall on the owner of the utility per current state law.
“I believe my proposal plays a vital role in expanding broadband internet services to our rural communities,” stated Sen. Riddle. “By providing internet providers with more room to safely install fiber optic cable, we can help make it cheaper and safer to bring high-speed internet services to every Missouri household.”
Senator Riddle filed similar legislation in 2017. The Senate’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee is expected to further discuss the proposal in the coming weeks.