JACKSON PITCHES PLAN TO HIGHWAY COMMISSION

VAN BUREN - Less than two weeks after it adopted an ordinance to reserve a 9,500 foot corridor for the future extension of East Main Street to a proposed interchange with Interstate 55, the city of Jackson took its plan to the state. City officials presented plans for the extension and interchange to the Missouri Highway Commission, during its monthly meeting in Van Buren Friday.

The proposed interchange would connect East Main Street with the interstate, and a new street that would be built to connect with the east side of the interchange by the city of Cape Girardeau. The proposed interchange would be located between the Bainbridge Road and Greensferry Road overpasses.

Jackson's plan was presented to the commission by Mayor Paul Sander, City Administrator Carl Talley, President of the Board of Aldermen Kevin Sawyer.

They asked the commission to place the proposed Jackson-Cape Girardeau I-55 interchange project on the commission's 15-year highway construction planning program.

After the meeting, Commissioner John Oliver said Jackson's request will be referred to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department's District 10 office in Sikeston.

Said Oliver: "The Sikeston office will evaluate the request and pass it on to our planning division for their evaluation and recommendation. At that point, the commission may include the request as a concept to be included in our public hearings scheduled for next spring. After that, will come a recommendation from our planning division on whether to include the request for our consideration at the commission's 1994 fall meeting."

Oliver pointed out that for the project to be viable, Jackson and Cape Girardeau will likely be asked to obtain and donate to the state the necessary right-of-way for the interchange.

Even if the Jackson-Cape Girardeau interchange project is approved by the state, Oliver said there is still a question whether the Federal Highway Administration would approve the project.

He noted there are already four I-55 interchanges in the Jackson-Cape area: the Highway 61 Fruitland Interchange; the Highway 61-34-East Jackson Boulevard Center Junction interchange, the Route K William Street interchange, and the Highway 74 South Sprigg-Dutchtown interchange.

"The answer to that question will be determined during the process," said Oliver.