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JEFFERSON CITY — A fast-growing area west of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is primed to get a new interstate interchange to accommodate an expected surge in traffic in the coming years.

But the proposed $40 million exit and entrance ramps off of Interstate 70 between Foristell and Wright City in Warren County is not on the horizon because of an influx of housing developments.

It’s all about cattle.

With construction underway on an $800 million beef processing facility south of the interstate, Missouri lawmakers inserted money for the interchange into the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is withholding comment on details about the possible project until after Gov. Mike Parson takes action on the state’s $51 billion spending blueprint.

“We are waiting for the budget process to be completed through the governor signing, which should happen by the end of the month,� MoDOT spokeswoman Linda Horn said.

But, with Parson’s focus on building out Missouri as a major meat processing state, the roadway improvements appear to have a good chance of winning his support.

The project is aimed at addressing potential traffic woes associated with processing 2,400 cows per day, as well as traffic from 1,300 workers expected to work at the Wisconsin-based American Foods Group facility.

When planning for the massive facility began, residents raised questions about truck traffic that would have to use the Wright City or Foristell exits off of I-70 — and then local roads — to reach the plant.

In addition, the new exit could address concerns about vehicles crossing the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks which run parallel to the interstate.

Early in the process, the Warren County Commission asked MoDOT for financial assistance to build an industrial road connecting Veterans Memorial Parkway west of Foristell to Highway T south of Foristell.

The roadway adjustments are just one element of the project, which has come under criticism by some in the region because of concerns about pollution in the fast-growing area near Wentzville.

Some residents, for example, are concerned that plans for the treatment and release of wastewater from the plant will degrade Lake Saint Louis, some nine miles to the east.

The company is building a higher-capacity sewage treatment facility that will release an average of about 3.5 million gallons of treated water per day into a tributary of Peruque Creek, which feeds Lake Saint Louis.