Highway 77 to close next week for roundabout construction

EDITOR'S NOTE: The name of a road has been corrected.

Highway 77 at Blomeyer will be closed Monday to allow construction crews to begin work on roundabout. If all goes as planned the road will reopen Oct. 18.

Darius Dowdy, resident engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said starting Monday detour signs will be in place to direct people around the closure, from where highways 77 and 25 meet at Blomeyer to County Road 220. The intersection is located just south of the Diversion Channel bridge.

Motorists trying to reach Highway 25 from Chaffee will be detoured on Route EE to Delta, adding some extra miles to the trip.

Dowdy said much thought was given to the construction of a roundabout versus installing a traffic signal at the interchange. MODOT decided to build a roundabout to help reduce the risk of accidents.

"There are less conflict points, or fewer locations where a potential crash may happen. History has indicated that drivers are more likely to run through a signal in rural areas, raising the potential for T-bone type crashes," he said.

Dowdy also said motorists, particularly those in large trucks, will find the flat curves of the roundabout make it easier to maneuver through the intersection, as opposed to making 90 degree turns.

In addition to the safety issue, Dowdy said roundabouts are more cost effective.

"There are cost savings. No monthly electric bill, no signal head lights to replace, no programming issues and etc.," he said.

The roundabout is part of the Route AB extension project that broke ground in July. The extension will provide direct access to Interstate 55 from Highway 25. The AB extension is scheduled for completion by summer or fall 2011.

Further information about the construction project is available by calling MODOT at 888-275-6636.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600