Completion of U.S. 60 four-lane project celebrated with caravan event

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Government and political officials past and present celebrated the completion of a decades-long project to make U.S. 60 a four-lane highway Friday in Sikeston, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

Mark Shelton, Missouri Department of Transportation Southeast District Engineer, said Friday's trip along the completed U.S. 60 as a four-lane highway was an engineer's dream.

"But we made it a reality," Shelton said Friday afternoon as he and other members of the Route 60 Caravan completed their trip from Willow Springs to Sikeston. The Caravan celebrated the completion of the effort to four-lane U.S. 60.

"This project is an example of hard work and persistence from communities along the corridor," Shelton said. "Not only will this route provide safer travel between Sikeston and Willow Springs, but commerce has also been positively impacted."

Shelton noted the teamwork that went into the project, which began in 1980s.

Not only did it involve area communities and their leaders, but state and federal leadership, he said, as he introduced Sen. Kit Bond.

Bond described the completed roadway as an investment in the future.

"I have said it before and I'll say it again: Good roads equal economic development. It is good roads that connect people and communities with one another. And it is this connection that attracts and sustains businesses, jobs and a high quality of life for Missouri families," Bond said.

The day brought a new experience for 8th District U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson. Emerson rolled into the final stop on the back of a motorcycle -- her first-ever motorcycle ride.

Emerson said the completed four-lane not only provides a smoother ride but a much safer one for those traveling across southern Missouri.

She went on to praise the teamwork involved in the project also. "You had the vision, we had the resources and together, we made a great team and made it happen," Emerson said.

Bond and Emerson worked together to direct federal funds to the project.

Highway officials praised Bond's efforts on the federal highway bill, increasing Missouri's share of gas tax dollars. Also Bond secured $25 million for the project in the last highway bill and worked with Emerson to secure another $10 million for a section of the project in the fiscal year 2003 transportation spending bill.

Former Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall added he has a dream as well.

"My dream is of a bridge," he said, referring to an effort he has been a part of to build a new bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Missouri and Kentucky. "That would truly give us and east to west four-lane corridor," Marshall said.

"That will put Sikeston where we need to be in transportation."