Cape County Commission hears suggestions for improving U.S. 61 congestion

A St. Louis consultant presented an idea Thursday that could alleviate traffic problems in parts of uptown Jackson.

Douglas S. Shatto, president of St. Louis-based Crawford, Bunte and Brammeier, told the Cape Girardeau County Commission during its meeting that his firm has identified three intersections along U.S. 61 where traffic is most congested.

Plans call for a stoplight and turn lanes at U.S. 61 and Main Street, a concrete barrier in a turn lane at Washington and Hope streets and a roundabout in front of the county courthouse near the intersection of U.S. 61 and Washington Street.

Shatto said the roundabout could be between 130 and 150 feet in diameter and could enhance the landscaping.

However, Shatto emphasized that plan still is in the early stages and has not been approved by the Missouri Department of Transportation. Since no funding source has been identified, a start date on construction is undetermined.

"Roundabouts can and should be very efficient intersection designs," Shatto said. "The public is beginning to get acclimated to them, and we feel it's a good fit to this location."

For the plan to work, a small section of the courthouse lawn facing Washington Street would be eliminated.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said he plans to use a tape measure to get a more visual picture of how much land would be removed.

Jones said while he believes the project is a good idea, he will research if any features of the county's land that could be eliminated hold any historic or other special designations.

"There also is a spruce tree there," Jones said. "I need to do some research to learn who put it there and why."

Other business

The commission also approved a recommendation for the Route AB extension to the intersection of highways 25 and 77 in Blomeyer.

Originally estimated at a little more than $2 million, the lowest bidder was Kolb Grading of St. Charles, Mo., with a bid of $1,044,711.18. The award is contingent upon approval by the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

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