NASH ROAD EXTENSION WILL BOOST PORT, SCOTT CITY, INDUSTRIAL AREAS

A planned three-mile extension of Nash Road will provide a major economic boost to the Southeast Missouri Regional Port and industrial sites in Scott City and Cape Girardeau.

"This project is critical to the development of the port authority, not only to attract new industry at the port, but to enable other industries in the area to have more direct access to the port," said Dan Overbey, executive director of the port authority. "We have at least one tenant lined up whose locating at the port is contingent upon completion of Nash Road and our railroad spur."

Currently, the only access to the port is by taking the Scott City exit off Interstate 55. All trucks must pass through Scott City. Besides trucks going to the port, there are between 150 and 200 tanker trucks passing through Scott City each day to the Texas Eastern terminal, and a number of trucks go to a quarry near the port.

Trucks traveling the main street of Scott City cause traffic congestion and safety problems. An accident or hazardous material spill could potentially shut off access to Scott City.

Scott City will also benefit from the extension because the area east of the I-55 and Nash Road interchange is in the city limits of Scott City where there are a number of industrial sites.

Besides running to the port authority, the Nash Road extension will have a connecting road running into Scott City, which will open a new access to the community.

In addition to benefiting industrial sites in Scott City and the port, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce President John Mehner said it will help existing businesses on Nash Road and assist in marketing 160 acres owned by the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corp.

Said Mehner: "Once that extension gets done it not only opens things for the port, but opens Nash Road wide open. It would allow businesses not needing to be directly in the port area to have straight-shot access to the port. Anytime you increase the access, it can't do anything but improve the chance of people using the port and the chances of other companies coming in."

Mehner said the extension "makes all of Nash Road that much more attractive for businesses to locate."

He said tonnage going through the port continues to grow, but once the road opens growth should be even greater.

The port authority's board of commissioners has been working with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Department on the Nash Road project for a number of years. The longtime effort soon will pay off with the letting of the first contract, anticipated early this summer.

The road will be two 12-foot lanes with 8-foot paved shoulders, which will basically look like Nash Road going west of I-55. Eventually, the road could be widened. It will have heavy duty pavement to accommodate heavy trucks and equipment.

Overbey said most of the right-of-way acquisition is close to being finalized and an overpass of the port's short-line railroad is being designed.

Final plans will be sent to the state highway department office in Jefferson City for approval. An environmental assessment of the route is being finalized, and a public hearing will be held in April to get reaction to the proposal.

Besides the extension of Nash Road, the highway department is planning to add a merge lane on northbound I-55 and do some work on the Nash Road interchange off of the interstate.

Total cost of the project is estimated at $12 million, with $8 million to $10 million for the road itself.

If the first contract can be awarded this summer, Overbey said all indications are that the project could be finished by late 1995.

"It's taking more time than we had hoped, but the main thing is that we are on track to have the road finished," said Overbey. "The completion of Nash Road, combined with rail access, will give the port authority the kind of diversity it needs to serve a variety of businesses in Southeast Missouri."