EAST-WEST ROAD DEBATE CONTINUES; JONES SAYS COUNTY ISN'T INTERESTED IN INTERSTATE 66

Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Cape Girardeau County officials would like an improved east-west highway through the county. The question is how best to lobby for the road improvement and what form it would take.

In August, the Cape Girardeau City Council committed $10,000 to lobby government officials to route a suggested Interstate 66 through the city. It has been proposed that such a highway would run from Norfolk, Va., to California, running only through small cities.

"We were never interested in any I-66 project," said Gerald Jones, presiding commissioner of Cape Girardeau County.

A group promoting the interstate has asked Cape Girardeau to give $10,000, Jackson $5,000, the county $10,000 and businesses $25,000, with the $50,000 going into a special city account for lobbying purposes.

Neither the county nor Jackson has taken any action.

Max Stovall, 2nd District commissioner, said, "We are interested in a route from Paducah, Ky., through Cape County. That's very important to us."

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander agreed.

"As for the total concept of I-66, I'm not all that interested," Sander said. "We're interested in the improvement of 34 to Van Buren. We're also interested in a route to Paducah."

Sander said the Jackson Board of Aldermen will likely discuss the funding proposal this month. The County Commission hasn't formally addressed the issue.

Improving the east-west connection is exactly what the I-66 project addresses, said Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III.

"I don't want to abandon it," he said. "If that interstate goes through Sikeston and not through Cape Girardeau, it will have a devastating impact on continued economic viability of Cape County.

"It's more incumbent on us to get Walt Wildman lobbying to get that highway through Illinois than ever before," Spradling said.

Walt Wildman has lobbied for 10 years to get Congress and state governments to endorse the coast-to-coast highway. He has suggested the highway run through Cape County, along Highway 34.

But earlier this month, the head of Missouri's Department of Transportation said Highway 60 offers the most likely route for an interstate from Paducah to Springfield, Mo.

Much of Highway 60 from Sikeston to Springfield is already four lanes and the state is working to improve the remaining sections of the road, he said.

Another study has been authorized to look at improving Highway 34 to a super two road from Cape Girardeau to Van Buren. A "super two" would mean Highway 34 would be straightened, widened and shoulders added.

Spradling said plans to make Highway 34 a super two makes lobbying efforts to bring an interstate through Cape Girardeau more important.

But Jones and Sander are less enthusiastic.

"Obviously the city of Jackson has a lot to gain," Sander said.

But he would like some assurance that the project has some viability before Jackson commits money.