MoDOT plans new interchange near Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The accident-prone intersection at Highways 67, 158 and 160 nine miles south of Poplar Bluff will be replaced with an interchange during a four-laning project that is on the state's proposed five-year transportation improvement program, but Butler County officials would like to see quicker safety enhancements to reduce the number of deaths and injuries.

"Due to the tragedy last week, we would like to see if we can make the intersection better," Eastern District Commissioner Robbie Myers said during Monday's Butler County Commission meeting.

Lauren Capper, 17, of rural Poplar Bluff, who was a junior at Neelyville High School, died when her westbound car was struck by a southbound semitruck at 11 p.m. May 13.

Butler County Coroner Larry Cotrell said there also were two deaths following a crash in December 2006.

"All of us are interested in a safer highway. Why can't we put up caution lights or warning signs and more speed control?" Cotrell said.

He noted several years ago MoDOT installed caution lights and warning signs on a dangerous curve on U.S. 67 north of Poplar Bluff where a number of fatal accidents had occurred.

"There have been no fatalities at that curve since then," Cotrell said. "We could save lives with caution lights until the permanent fix is completed."

Myers said the biggest cost for caution lights would be the electricity.

"We would be willing to work with them," said Myers, who commended the Missouri Department of Transportation for improvements made at the dangerous intersection in recent years and plans for the four-laning project.

Myers said a letter asking for more safety improvements will be composed and signed Wednesday before it is mailed to MoDOT. Letters of support also will be sent from the Neelyville School District and by Tibbs.

When told the four-laning of U.S. 67 from Poplar Bluff to a mile south of highways 158 and 160 was on MoDOT's proposed five-year list of projects for 2009 to 2013, Myers said, "That is great news."

MoDOT estimates the cost of the project at $28 million. Initial plans include an interchange at Highway 158 east of the current intersection.

"We want to get this project done as fast as possible," MoDOT Planning Manager Bill Robison said. "We plan to have public meetings this fall and start right-of-way acquisition in the spring."

The new transportation program includes $300 million in new construction projects because lower than expected interest rates provided additional Amendment 3 bonding capacity. The $140 million bonded amount, combined with state savings from using practical design on projects and local matching funds, allows MoDOT to tackle these new projects over the next five years.

"While it's great news to be able to pursue this additional work, we can't overlook the fact that in this program the Amendment 3 bond proceeds are used up, and our state transportation program goes back to critically low spending levels," MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. "The program we're proposing marks the shift from having the opportunity to build new projects to barely maintaining what we have."

Missouri transitions from a construction program averaging $1.23 billion to a construction program of about $575 million in 2013. Compounding the funding problem is an expected decline in federal revenue, and rising fuel and construction costs.

"We have seen great progress due to Amendment 3," Rahn said. "Missouri must now have a conversation about what is to come regarding continued improvements to our transportation system."