Letter to the Editor

Questions about new interchange

To the editor:

The big question regarding the new Jackson interstate interchange: Why build a completely new interchange when a half-mile south we already have an overpass into Jackson via County Road 618 and County Road 620? Why not simply add access lanes for I-55?

Why is Cape Girardeau involved at all, when the interchange site is three miles north of the city limits? Why is Cape using federal fuel-tax dollars to rebuild County Road 618, a perfectly pleasant country road outside the city limits? Who benefits? Has anyone asked the residents along County Road 618 if they want their road widened, realigned and renamed? Or if they want to be annexed?

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson waxes eloquently and endlessly about Cape residents needing another interchange, but few, if any, Cape residents live north of the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course, and the Lexington Avenue-Kingshighway intersection isn't that busy that often. Is his concern for county residents?

For that matter, why does anyone need more access to Jackson? What's the attraction, except golf courses and the courthouse? Knudtson and Jackson Mayor Paul Sander seem to say folks need another access to the interstate so they can -- do what? Drive to St. Louis to shop?

Finally, the new service road: Why do we need another service road when we already have County Road 620 running parallel to the interstate from the city limits directly into County Road 618?

KENNETH WILLIAMS, Cape Girardeau