CENTER JUNCTION PLAN NOT MOVING

A plan to speed up improvements to the busy Interstate 55-U.S. 61 interchange between Cape Girardeau and Jackson has stalled, leaving local officials wondering if the project will ever get rolling.

Its future rests in large measure with Cape Girardeau developer Jim Drury, who months ago expressed interest in developing property at the intersection.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission met in Cape Girardeau on Nov. 5 and approved the formation of a local transportation corporation to speed up improvements to the intersection. The highway commission appointed a seven-member board of directors. It includes representatives of the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson and all three members of the county commission.

But two months later, the board has yet to meet. Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Monday that no meeting is scheduled.

Jones said there have been no discussions between Drury and the board.

The project calls for spending $5 million to make the interchange safer and increase traffic flow. That would be accomplished by moving the north lane closer to the south lane and reconfiguring the entrance and exit angles of the ramps to Interstate 55.

Under the plan, the transportation corporation would issue construction bonds and the local governments would pay upfront construction costs. The bonds would service the debt until the Missouri Department of Transportation bought back the improvements, which wouldn't occur until after 2004.

But Jones said the plan hinges on Drury developing the land around the Center Junction. Commercial development would generate sales tax revenue for the local governments, with the money used to pay the interest on the bonds.

"If there is not going to be a development, then you don't have any sales tax you can capture," said Jones.

"If we want to move this up on our own, we have to foot the bill," Jones said.

The two cities and the county government aren't in a position to fund the project without added sales tax revenue to pay for it, Jones said.

Initially, local officials had drafted an agreement that called for the state and Drury to swap land for right of way.

But MoDOT and the highway commission rejected the idea. Drury was offering about two acres in exchange for about six acres.

Scott Meyer, MoDOT district engineer, has said that the state wants fair market value for its land.

If the right of way dispute can't be resolved and Drury doesn't develop the property, the project won't move forward, Meyer has said.

At this point, the project is listed on the state's highway improvements plans for 2004, but only if the financing proposal takes effect, said MoDOT spokeswoman Angie Wilson from the agency's district office in Sikeston.

Wilson said it is up to the corporation to resolve any dispute with Drury.

Drury hasn't responded to reporters telephone calls on this issue in recent months. That pattern continued Monday as Drury didn't return a call placed from the Southeast Missourian to his Cape Girardeau office.

But city and county officials say they hope the project can move forward.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said, "From a safety standpoint, the intersection should be improved."

Traffic counts show about 15,000 vehicles a day move through the intersection. The various entrances and exits at the intersection pose safety problems, Spradling said.

Spradling said the right-of-way problem must be resolved if the project is to proceed in the near future.

"It really lies with the developer to a certain extent to work with us to get it done," said Spradling.

Jones said he isn't ready to give up on the project.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander also refused to throw in the towel. "At this point, we remain hopeful that something will be worked out that will be to everybody's benefit."