OAK RIDGE ASKS BOARD TO BACK I-55 INTERCHANGE

Oak Ridge people have worked more than 20 years to get an Interstate 55 interchange for their community.

Over the years, state and federal highway officials have approved, held two public hearings, have received petitions and completed an environmental impact study.

As of September, the interchange at Route E was included in the state's 15-year plan, scheduled for construction between 1998 and 2002.

Oak Ridge residents thought all the regulatory hurdles had been jumped and the road was cleared for construction.

But now, it seems the project is in jeopardy because Jackson city officials want an I-55 interchange at the planned East Main extension.

The state Highway Department has asked county commissioners to prioritize the two potential Interstate 55 interchanges.

At Thursday's county commission meeting, the Oak Ridge mayor and several residents asked the board to support the Oak Ridge interchange.

State highway official Jim Murray told commissioners it wasn't about replacing the Oak Ridge project with the East Main project, but rather which gets built first.

Jeff Hahs, an Oak Ridge interchange supporter, said, "Oak Ridge already has a road over the highway. Jackson has yet to build a road out to the interstate."

Oak Ridge School Superintendent Roger Tatum told commissioners the interchange at East Main is also needed. "We hope you endorse the Jackson interchange, too."

But Oak Ridge Mayor Don Stahlheber and the others asked commissioners not to derail the Oak Ridge project.

The original plan for I-55 called for the interchange at Route E, but when the highway was built, the interchange was constructed at Old Appleton --Route KK instead. That was in 1969.

Oak Ridge residents have worked for exit ramps to their community ever since.

Janet Smith of Oak Ridge asked Murray when the project would be safe from questioning. Murray said not until the project moved into a three-year construction budget. The Oak Ridge interchange isn't in that budget.

The county commission is collecting information and wants to make its recommendation by the end of June.

Jones said, "We don't want to jeopardize either project."

As part of the fact-finding process, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones has hired a person to count traffic between 6 and 9 a.m. on the two roadways in question.

On Monday, 127 cars traveled on Route E at the intersection with Highway 61. The count doesn't include traffic on Highway 61.

On Tuesday, 471 vehicles traveled on East Main Street at the intersection of Shawnee in Jackson. The count doesn't include traffic on Shawnee.

Yes, the Oak Ridge delegation says, Oak Ridge is a small town. But Highway 61 carries a lot of traffic from Fruitland to Appleton that could access I-55 at Oak Ridge if the interchange were built.

Traffic travels along Highway 61 past the Route E intersection from three residential subdivisions and more than 20 small businesses. Workers and tractor-trailers travel to and from Procter & Gamble, M&W Packaging, Quality Packaging Inc. and VIP Industries. Log trucks from the East Perry Lumber Co. and Timber Export Products Inc. travel the route. Nine school buses from the Jackson School District travel daily on Highway 61, and farmers haul livestock to and from the Fruitland Auction Barn.

In addition, people commute along this route to get to jobs, college, medical facilities and other places in Cape Girardeau.

OAK RIDGE INTERCHANGE CHRONOLOGY

1969-1971 Route E interchange at Oak Ridge is in Interstate 55 original plan; however, the interchange is eventually constructed at Route KK - Old Appleton instead.

September 1973 Federal Highway Administration approves the addition of Route E interchange at Oak Ridge.

October 1975 State Highway Commission holds pre-site meeting to solicit public comment on project. Majority of 60 people at meeting for project.

October 1975 State Highway Commission gives tentative approval of site.

November 1975 Federal Highway Administration cleares environmental aspects of project.

1979 Because of limited funding, the project is reduced to acquiring right of way acquisition only as an initial stage.

1982 Proposition A package omits Oak Ridge project in 15-year plan.

January 1988 Oak Ridge Town Board contacts state and federal legislators to reactivate support for project with the state Highway Commission.

September 1990 The Cape Girardeau County Commission pledges support for Route E interchange at Oak Ridge.

October 1990 505 people submit initiative petition for project to the State Highway Commission.

April 1992 State Highway Commission meets to solicit public comment on its proposed 15-year road improvement plan. The Route E interchange at Oak Ridge is part of 15-year plan. The majority of public comment favors the project.

September 1994 The Route E interchange at Oak Ridge is included in the state's 15-year plan for road improvements. The Highway Commission proposes to purchase the right of way and complete construction of this interchange between the years 1998 and 2002.

Source: Oak Ridge Board of Trustees