NO SCENIC BYWAY THROUGH HOWELL COUNTY

There will be no Scenic Byway through Howell County, reports County Clerk Kelly Waggoner. The County Commission had until Dec. 13 to make a decision about participation in the Scenic Byway, but Howell County is no longer being considered for this designation. 

"We had requested a meeting with MODOT, who was the facilitator for the Byway program," said Waggoner. "In the process, we were informed that Howell County was no longer being considered for designation due to Shannon and Oregon County not participating."

Without the participation of adjacent counties, no action of the Howell County Commission is required, Waggoner confirms. 

Despite vehement and vocal opposition at the public meeting for comment in September, Howell County Commissioners told the News on Nov. 17 that they had not heard from many constituents regarding the county's participation. 

A crowd of about 60 gathered to comment on the proposed Ozarks Scenic Byway on Sept 13. A scenic byway is a series of roads designated by uniform signage. Meetings for public comment are a mandatory part of the process of establishing their designation as laid out by Missouri statutes. 

The proposed byway begins in St. Louis County and was originally designed to travel south through the Arcadia Valley and Shannon County before veering west through Howell County, ending in Branson. Locally, the proposed route would have traveled through Howell County and the cities of West Plains, Alton, and Thayer.

To be included in the byway route, each political entity along the route must approve participation. Without the participation of adjoining counties, Howell County is no longer on the route. 

In September, Erik Hermanson, board member of Scenic Missouri said he expected Jefferson, Shannon, and Oregon Counties to reject the byway. He expressed confidence that Washington, Iron, and Reynolds Counties will approve it, and he said he was "optimistic" that Taney and Ozark counties would approve it as well.