Meeting on Scott City interchange project coming up

A proposal for a new Scott City interchange will be discussed at a public hearing May 23 at city hall in Kelso, Mo.

After the Missouri Department of Transportation completed environmental and architectural evaluations to determine the best location for the construction of an interchange, which would help alleviate the traffic congestion in Scott City by diverting traffic from the city's primary Interstate 55 interchange, the agency determined the best option was to use the existing overpass for Route PP, said project manager Eric Krapf.

"When we met with Scott City last fall, we had considered putting an interchange between Route PP and Scott City, but that turned out to be a problematic location," he said. "The environmental evaluations determined that it would impact Ramsey Creek and the surrounding wetlands, as well as nearby historic properties."

Krapf said the newest project plans would add connecting roads to the overpass, located about two miles south of Scott City.

Officials say the roads would divert heavy traffic away from the section of Route PP that runs directly through the city of Kelso, near schools and residential areas, and would improve the connection between the western part of the town and east Scott City.

"We would make a connecting road to Route 61 at the south end of Kelso so the traffic doesn't go through the main part of town then get dumped off at the interchange," Krapf said. "This will help alleviate congestion by allowing more cars to get through the traffic signals during the available green time."

Three roads meet at the city's primary interchange -- Interstate 55, U.S. 61 and Main Street -- creating a logjam at heavy traffic times. A short distance from the interchange is the Scott City School District, exacerbating the problem during morning rush hour, when adults are leaving for work and children are arriving at school.

Scott City Mayor Tim Porch said the city has been working with MoDOT on the project for "many, many years."

"I think at this point everyone is pretty much on the same page," he said. "We need something to help our traffic problem, and this could be very beneficial to Scott City, depending on where it's built."

Porch said he's concerned moving the interchange away from the city may decrease its effectiveness.

"The further south it goes, the more difficult it is to annex it and benefit from its development," he said. "I don't doubt that it will take some pressure off the traffic congestion, but I'm not sure this is what the city really needs. We need to sit down and discuss it, and who knows? I could be sold on it after it's been studied a little more."

Krapf said questions and concerns are encouraged at the hearing. Maps and detailed information also will be available for public inspection.

For those unable to attend the hearing, Krapf said the MoDOT Southeast District website will have an "online public hearing," where visitors can access the same information available at the hearing and leave comments. The online public hearing will be set up closer to the time of the hearing in Kelso and may be found at modot.org/southeast.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

426 S. Messmer St., Kelso, MO