A better traffic plan

Anyone who has driven in or around St. Louis recently knows about traffic jams, stop-and-go driving and bumper-to-bumper motoring for miles and miles.

Years ago, St. Louis County's traffic had pretty much a straight shot north and south along Lindbergh Boulevard, a familiar road to residents of this area who went to the city on U.S. 61. As the county developed, I-270 relieved much of the congestion on Lindbergh. Over the years, more and more lanes have been added to I-270, which carries tens of thousands of vehicles daily.

I-55 takes commuters, travelers and shoppers from south St. Louis County and heavily populated Jefferson County to the downtown area of St. Louis. Shopping centers, strip malls, discount stores and restaurants line either side of Lindbergh on both sides of I-55.

So it may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that Missouri Department of Transportation counts show there is more traffic in Cape Girardeau on the stretch of William Street (Route K) between I-55 and St. Francis Drive than there is on Lindbergh between I-55 and Union Road in St. Louis County.

Motorists who drive through that stretch of William on a regular basis know how congested it can be. There are plenty of reasons to drive in that area: Westfield Shoppingtown West Park Mall, all the retail development along Siemers Drive, the restaurants and motels off Farrar Drive and St. Francis Medical Center, other business establishments and both sides of William and all the medical facilities in Doctors Park just off Mount Auburn Road.

The need for better traffic control and more lanes to accommodate the traffic crush has been known for a long time. Now MoDOT, the city and cooperating businesses are in the process of putting the final touches on improvements that should make getting through the area simpler and speedier.

These improvements are spurred, in part, by the fact that the old Holiday Inn has been razed to make way for a new Holiday Inn Express and some restaurants. While the area is still congested with traffic, there is less of it without Holiday Inn in traffic.

MoDOT plans to add signals on William at Farrar, which will help motorists get to and from businesses much more easily. More lanes will be added on William to accommodate both right-hand and left-hand turns onto Mount Auburn Road. Plans are being worked out for straightening a sharp curve in Farrar Drive and moving access to Vantage Drive farther away from busy William Street. And MoDOT plans to make better use of lanes on the William overpass across I-55, including signage that will direct motorists to the proper lane for where they are trying to go.

As a package, the improvements in this busy area will mean fewer delays, easier access and far less frustration for the thousands of motorists who use William Street. MoDOT says it will make sure the road work won't interfere with the heavy traffic of holiday shopping that builds up between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Let's hope this means the work, weather permitting, will be done before then.