AREA RESIDENTS GIVE VIEWS ON HIGHWAYS

JACKSON -- Dozens of area residents along with city and county officials were on hand Thursday to tell representatives of the Missouri State Highway Commission what they think about the proposed changes in roads throughout the region.

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department District 10 office hosted its third annual public meeting in Jackson to explain the 1994 highway construction and improvement program in Southeast Missouri, from St. Francois County to the Bootheel.

After a brief introduction by Freeman McCullah and John Oliver, the group branched off so that representatives of the department could gather public input for prioritizing future highway construction projects in the district from 1996 through 2007.

"The purpose of this meeting is for us to receive and document your opinions of current plans for state highways and roads," said McCullah, district 10 highway engineer. "Every comment we get tonight will be recorded and each will be duly considered."

Oliver, a Cape Girardeau attorney and member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, said Missouri has the fifth largest highway system in the United States. Only six states have a lower gasoline tax than Missouri.

"We've figured out how to get more bang for the buck than any other state," said Oliver. "Missouri stands on the threshold of being able to have a decent infrastructure, all due to the foresight of the state legislature and the people of the state."

Oliver said meetings such as Thursday's are essential to state planners for the development of an effective 15-year plan for state roadways.

The group separated and became identified by the county of each person's concern.

John Weiss, who lives a mile and a half down Highway 34 from its junction with Highway 72, told state highway representatives for Cape Girardeau County he thinks something needs to be done with the intersection.

"There are all kinds of accidents at that intersection -- people have died there," said Weiss. "That intersection is on a hill and is a blind shot for most people pulling out."

Larry Rohr, a state highway representative, told Weiss and other residents concerned with the present state of both highways 72 and 34 that the state should be undertaking a study of the area in 1997. Rebuilding of both highways to make them two-lane roads in both directions is not slated until the year 2002.

Lou Hagler, a businessman from Cape Girardeau, asked the representatives if something could be done to improve the junction of Highway 61 and Interstate 55.

"My employees drive that road in trucks all the time," Hagler said. "With the increased amount of traffic along that road, more and more accidents are occurring.

"I understand that improving that interchange is currently a low priority with the state, but I'm here to tell you I think it needs to be made a higher priority," he said.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander was also on hand to voice a few opinions of his own to the state representatives. Sander presented them with a joint resolution signed by himself and the mayor of Cape Girardeau, supporting the East Main extension plan which Jackson is soon to undertake. The Jackson mayor also gave the representatives copies of street plans for Jackson and Cape Girardeau, to show the state that the East Main project was compatible with both.

"We are moving on the project now and intend to do so no matter what the highway department decides to do," said Sander.

Another area of concern for the mayor was the intersection of Route PP and Highway 72.

"We are now experiencing major industrial growth in that area, increasing the traffic flow in Route PP," Sander said. "At Highway 72, the road becomes a bottleneck -- it's a blind intersection."

Sander said that Route PP is becoming dangerous to travel on, but he was not sure what should be done.

"(McCullah) suggested that we come here tonight and tell you about it; maybe something can be done," said Sander. "We're open to suggestions."