NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS INSTALLED IN JACKSON

JACKSON -- Motorists at Highway 61 and Route D in Jackson will soon be stopping for new intersection traffic signals.

The signal lights were installed as part of a joint project by the city of Jackson and the Missouri Department of Transportation after traffic at the intersection increased 15 percent in one year. Normal traffic growth is 3 to 5 percent.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander explained that growth in Jackson, combined with new schools along Route D, contributed to traffic congestion at the intersection.

"Four major schools feed off Route D onto Highway 61," Sander said. "Prior to this, I've seen traffic backed up half a mile on Route D. For traffic flow and safety issues, this has been one of my pet projects."

The signals should be activated this week. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.

Prior to the traffic signals, vehicles on Highway 61 didn't stop and motorists on Route D had a stop sign.

Steve Hoernig, district traffic studies engineer with the state transportation department said a traffic count in May 1997 showed 10,306 vehicles at the intersection during a 12-hour period. Of those, 8,068 were on Highway 61 and 2,238 were on Route D and Independence Street. The estimated traffic count for a 24-hour period at the intersection was 13,400 vehicles.

In 1996, a similar 12-hour traffic count showed 8,990 vehicles, with 7,039 on Highway 61 and 1,897 on Route D. The estimated traffic count for a 24-hour period a year ago was 11,700. The increase on Highway 61 was 14 percent and on Route D was 18 percent.

In addition, the number of accidents at the intersection was increasing, Hoernig said.

The increase in traffic prompted Jackson city and the state highway department to work on the project together.

"This has been a cooperative venture," said Hoernig. "We don't do that all the time, but I think it will be more the way of the future."

Jackson's portion of the project included realigning Independence Street to meet with Route D at the intersection. An entrance to the city park was moved to the south, away from the intersection. The city paid for asphalt.

Engineering, dirt moving and signaling for the project was done by the transportation department.

The intersection has a four-way stop with turn signals on Highway 61, Route D and Independence.

"There are many places in Jackson where traffic is a problem," Sander said. "But there are limitations on what the city and state can do. This is one place we had space to make the improvements."