Cape, Jackson may pay to get Center Junction lights early

Jackson and Cape Girardeau will save at least a year by providing upfront financing for the Center Junction lighting project.

The cities expect to light up the Interstate 55 and U.S. 61 junction at the city limits anywhere from 12 to 18 months ahead of the Missouri Department of Transportation's schedule for 2007.

But to do that, both cities will have to come up with $70,500, which will be reimbursed by MoDOT in fiscal year 2007.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night directed city administrator Jim Roach to look into MoDOT's Innovative Finance Program and find out the particulars.

The aldermen favored borrowing the money at low interest as opposed to paying all the money upfront.

Cape Girardeau city manager Doug Leslie said the city council has not yet decided on a plan of action regarding financing the project.

"Center Junction is a major point of access for both communities," Leslie said. "We do want to participate."

The project has been in the works for more than a year. Late in 2002, the cities signed a joint proclamation, urging MoDOT to light up the interchange. In January of this year, the two cities decided to look into supplying money upfront to push the project ahead.

Claueda Barks, who runs an auction a few hundred feet from the junction, said she has never had security problems due to the darkness but could see how lights would improve safety.

"It would be nice to have lights," she said. "I think there might be less accidents of those coming off the interstate, especially those going south-bound. It's really dark and sometimes I don't think people are aware of where they are."

Traffic counts from 2001 show that 24,000 vehicles travel Center Junction daily.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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