Business owners seek signage from MoDOT

More concerns about access on the West Jackson Boulevard widening project surfaced Monday as business owners complained about the design's lack of signs granting permission for U-turns.

Ever since the Missouri Department of Transportation unveiled a limited access corridor -- one that came with a median instead of continuous left-turn lanes -- there has been tension between property owners and MoDOT.

MoDOT downplayed the business owners' concerns, saying motorists could make U-turns at various light intersections along the way, and would only have to backtrack a short way.

But business owners, including Alderman Joe Bob Baker, are saying that the current design won't do a good enough job at letting people know that they are allowed to turn around.

MoDOT project manager Eric Krapf said there are no plans for signs to let people know that U-turns are permitted. He said that's because no such sign exists for Missouri roadways.

Unless otherwise posted, U-turns are a legal driving maneuver in the state.

Led by Baker's concerns, the Jackson board of aldermen Monday night told city administrator Jim Roach to ask MoDOT to add signs to the plans.

U-turns are legal

"I think it would be very unwise not to mark it that way," said Jackson Mayor Paul Sander. "If I was driving through town and didn't know better, I wouldn't feel comfortable making a U-turn like that."

Baker said he thinks "98 percent" of the public probably thinks U-turns are illegal and that some customers may not visit his auto salvage business because of that perception.

Baker has been outspoken against the limited access from the start. He said most limited access highways have parallel outer or frontage roads. This one does not, which makes the U-turns all the more important. He said he would also like to see an additional turn lane added for U-turns. Not only would it help the businesses by making it clearer to motorists that U-turns are allowed, but he said it would improve safety as well.

Baker's business neighbor, Fred Scheper, who owns a flower shop, said he also believes there should be signs placed to let motorists know they are allowed to change directions.

"It's self-explanatory on why a sign should be there," he said. "I think the situation will work itself out, though."

Krapf said the road has been designed to accommodate the U-turns. He said computer models have shown that passenger cars and pick-up trucks and even UPS type trucks will be able to make the turns.

For larger trucks, a "jug handle" turn-around area is being built near the city limits as part of the project's first phase to accommodate them.

Krapf agreed with Baker in that a lot of people probably don't know that the U-turns are legal. He said the public relations department at the regional office in Sikeston is reviewing ways to get the word out about the U-turns once all four lanes open.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635