County waiting on Nash Road survey

Those behind a local and state project that would create a better route between industry-rich Nash Road and Interstate 55 are awaiting a state survey that would map out a proposed route and reveal any environmental problems.

While funding questions remain, the Missouri Department of Transportation survey -- due in August -- would at least allow supporters to find out which landowners in the southern fringe of Cape Girardeau County they need to approach to buy an estimated 100 acres of right of way. That would have to happen before the state paves the 3.5 miles of new road in 2006.

"Of course, we can't do anything until we see what kind of acreage is involved, exactly where the road would go and who's involved," said Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Larry Bock.

'Already told them I'd sell'

Some of the residents who live near the possible route have complained that they don't want the extension and the extra tractor-trailer traffic it would bring. John W. Stroder lives along Highway 77 and might be asked for right of way. He said he's all for it.

"It would suit me just fine," he said. "It'd make my property worth more than it is right now. It would also make it quicker for me to get to Cape. I've already told them I'd sell."

The state also will survey the land to see if there are any environmental concerns, such as wetlands that serve as wildlife habitat. If wetlands are found, the route could avoid that area or new wetlands could be built to replace them.

The county commission, state highway officials and others say extending Nash Road -- also known as state Route AB -- would give truckers an alternative to the bumpy gravel roads they use now while traveling from places such as the BioKyowa plant to I-55.

The extended Nash Road would go from where it ends near BioKyowa's plant at 5469 Nash Road westward to near the junction of Highway 77 and Highway 25 south of Dutchtown.

The high-priority project also would provide better access to the Mississippi River port near Scott City. Traffic congestion on I-55 near the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport could also be alleviated, supporters say.

"There's land down there suitable for more expansion," Bock said. "That could be looked at. It's also a safety factor, keeping people off the interstate is safer. It's slow going, but we're trying to get the project moved along."

The plan has been estimated to cost at least $2.5 million. The county would build a gravel road, and then the Missouri Department of Transportation would do the engineering, designing and paving. MoDOT has budgeted $1.8 million for the project in fiscal 2006, which begins July 2005.

Local entities will have to buy the right of way, however. Cape Girardeau County Highway Department and Cape Special Road District will have to do the grading and site work for the road. No one's sure where that money will come from yet.

No money from power plant

Money was to be used from special revenue generated from a proposed Kinder-Morgan power plant near Crump. But Kinder-Morgan pulled the plug on that project, meaning the money will have to come from elsewhere.

"Obviously, for a lot of different reasons, that was a big blow," said Mitch Robinson, head of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association. "We had planned for that funding for several years for several different projects, including this one."

Robinson said they hope to get donations from different groups, like the SEMO Regional Port Authority, some of the businesses along Nash Road and possibly some other groups. The county may be asked to kick in, even though it already has a tight budget.

"It's money that's been verbally committed or in writing by some organizations," he said. "But I don't know if it's going to be enough."

MoDOT district engineer Scott Meyer said the deal is still on the state's books and has been budgeted.

"It's still in our program," he said. "Once we program something, we're committed to it."

Dan Overbey, executive director of the SEMO Regional Port Authority, in the past has estimated the cost of the right of way at $700,000. But he said on Monday board members have made only "rough guesses" that could be too high or too low.

But he agrees that it would benefit the businesses at the port, including the grain elevators, fertilizer distributors, cargo docks and the chip mill.

"Trucks could bypass the more congested areas," he said. "They could come straight across, provide routes to keep them off the interstate. It would also help the Nash Road area and the airport."

Overbey estimated that there are about eight or nine landowners who may own property where the new stretch of road would go. All of those people have been notified.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137