HIGHWAY ALTERNATIVES NEEDED FOR SCOTT CITY

As the northern Scott County area from Scott City to Chaffee continues to grow, ever-increasing demands will be placed on the congested I-55 interchange that causes traffic delays every morning and every afternoon Monday through Friday.

There is general agreement by residents of that area and the Missouri Department of Transportation that the Scott City interchange has long passed its ability to adequately handle the traffic load. But there is also general agreement that there is no affordable fix for the interchange. A railroad, school and other development have the interchange boxed in.

Perhaps the answer lies not in changes to that particular interchange. It is more likely that the answer lies in alternatives that would reduce the 16,000 vehicles that go through the interchange daily.

Earlier this year, MoDOT concluded that the idea of a second highway between Scott City and Cape Girardeau wasn't financially feasible. The main obstacle was the cost of a new bridge across the Diversion Channel. But there appear to be other ideas that deserve to be pursued.

For example, Nash Road has been upgraded primarily to serve the Southeast Missouri Port Authority next to Scott City. But there are a couple of access points for Scott City residents, many of whom already choose this route to I-55 rather than going through the Scott City interchange. Scott City officials and MoDOT might want to look at a cost analysis of what it would take to make those connections more appealing.

More traffic on Nash Road, of course, would put pressure on the Nash Road/I-55 interchange. Already there are problems for northbound motorists getting on the interstate. The access lane for merging onto the interstate is too short. MoDOT is planning to make improvements there.

In addition, industrial development is going strong along Nash Road to the west of this interchange. As more and more workers, delivery trucks and construction vehicles go through that interchange, the demand for an upgrade is increase.

Moreover, there have been preliminary discussions about extending Nash Road west to Highway 25. This would create an alternate route for motorists in the Chaffee area to get to northbound I-55 rather than going through the Scott City interchange.

Then there is an idea voiced by a recent Speak Out caller who suggested a second Scott City interchange to the south of the existing one. Whether this idea has merit has yet to be determined, but it's certainly worth throwing into the idea hopper.

There are ways to solve this problem. In the interest of future development in northern Scott County, this problem needs to be a high priority for highway officials and local resident.