Jackson to extend South Old Orchard Road

The city of Jackson is extending a portion of South Old Orchard Road between East Jackson Boulevard and Old Cape Road East.

Public works director Rodney Bollinger said via email Thursday the project is one the city's transportation officials have been mulling over for several years.

The new extension will consist of a 52-foot-wide concrete outer road, as well as a fourth traffic signal to be added at the highway intersection. The existing gravel surface of Old Cape Road will be overlaid with asphalt.

Bollinger said the new route will ease traffic concentrations in the surrounding area, as well as opening up "significant tracts of land for development in this area."

He also said although private interests did not play a role in the project's beginning, Kohlfeld Distributing has plans to build on the west side of the new roadway.

Mike Kohlfeld, president of Kohlfeld Distributing, was not available for comment.

Fronabarger Concreters Inc. is in charge of the construction for the city, and the scheduled completion date is in the winter of this year.

Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said the new road represents a step in the right direction for a more vibrant community in the immediately surrounding area.

"I think that by having that intersection being a four-way intersection, it will open up that area for things like retail," he said. "When you couple that with the new bridge we're putting in going south on Old Orchard Road, that whole corridor will be more opened up to traffic and benefit the retailers who are there."

In addition to increased traffic for present retailers, he said the increased access will make the area more attractive to prospective development, commercial and residential.

Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce director Brian Gerau agreed, saying commuter convenience more often than not translates into economic development.

"Accessibility's always key in any town. When you can have roads that go east to west and north to south, those definitely help with congestion and infrastructure," he said. "Any time that you can get across town in a short amount of time is important. Whenever you develop roads in Jackson, you're going to have businesses wanting to build on those roads."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627