HIGHWAY PROJECTS PROGRESS; THREE AREA EFFORTS NEAR COMPLETION

Work on three highway intersection improvement projects, two in Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson, are nearing completion, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department reported Thursday.

Meanwhile, the highway department said it appears a project to widen Route K to five lanes and install traffic signals in the vicinity of Wal-Mart will not begin until next spring.

Highway Department Resident Engineer Bob Wilson said the Route K-Mt. Auburn intersection improvement project is nearly finished. Wilson said the left and right turn lanes are completed and the contractor is finishing shoulder and site cleanup work.

The project included construction of right turn lanes on Mt. Auburn and left turn lanes on Route K to speed the flow of traffic through the busy west end intersection.

Wilson said permanent signal poles were installed at the Route K-Mt. Auburn intersection last week. The new signal heads were mounted on the poles this week. "The technical representative from the signal company will be in town soon to program the signal controller. We're hoping to turn the signals on some time next week, if everything goes all right," he said. "As soon as they're in operation, we'll remove the temporary signal heads that are now hung on cables over the intersection."

Wilson said the final section of paving is under way at the re-configured North Kingshighway, Mt. Auburn, Route K and Lex~ington intersection.

"That project should be complete in about four weeks," he said. "We started paving the final link from the (new) Cape LaCroix Bridge to North Kingshighway earlier this week. All that's left now is installation of the traffic signals and some shoulder and cleanup work."

The new intersection will "square up" the junction of the four major city thoroughfares. The traffic signals will allow traffic on Mt. Auburn and Lexington to cross or turn onto North Kingshighway.

Wilson said widening of the intersection at West Jackson (Highway 34-72) and West Lane in Jackson is complete, and the state is ready to install traffic signals at the intersection.

"We're waiting on the city to set the utility poles so we can mount the signal heads," said Jack Grimes of the highway department's maintenance and traffic division at Sikeston.

"As soon as the poles are up, it will take us about three weeks to mount the signal heads, install the sensors in the pavement, mount the control box and get the signals programmed," he added.

Meanwhile, work on the new Highway 177 bridge over Flora Creek at Egypt Mills is progressing. The job should be completed in late October or early November, according to Grimes.

A major project on Route K, west of Interstate 55, will apparently not begin until next spring.

Grimes said the project will be financed entirely by Wal-Mart, with the state providing the necessary inspection. "All of the state permits have been issued and the Wal-Mart and Drury plans have been approved, but I understand, at this point, no work will begin until next spring because they cannot get their logistics arranged before the end of this year's construction season," he explained.

"Wal-Mart is working with a consulting engineer on the project and will let their own contract for the widening of the highway and the installation of the traffic signals. I would imagine they will be able to take bids and award a contract for the work later this winter."

The work will include widening of Route K to five lanes - with a center left turn lane - from the Route K-I-55 overpass, westward to a point west of the last entrance to the Wal-Mart parking lot. Grimes said the work will also include some changes in the grade of the highway to improve sight distance for eastbound vehicles coming over the crest of a hill west of the Wal-Mart store.

The traffic signals will be installed at the westernmost entrance to the Wal-Mart parking lot, off of Route K.

Grimes said when the project is completed, the state will monitor the traffic flow on that part of Route K to determine if additional traffic signals are needed at the Siemers Street intersection. "But keep in mind, we want to avoid putting up stop lights every 300-500 feet down the road, if we can," he added.