SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — The Federal Highway Administration has approved a plan to extend Kansas Expressway south toward a southwest Missouri county.

The administration approved the project's environmental assessment report. The approval allows Greene County to proceed with the design phase of the extension that would go down toward Christian County, the Springfield News-Leader reported .

Opponents of the project say they'd rather see Greene County choose a different route for a north-south corridor because the expressway will create traffic congestion and road safety issues without easing the...