PORT AUTHORITY NEEDS ROAD EXTENSION

SCOTT CITY -- A proposal to extend Nash Road westward was presented Tuesday by the executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority to members of the Scott City Chamber of Commerce.

Daniel Overbey, port authority director, told members of the chamber that the three mile extension of Nash Road (Route AB) to Route 25 is essential to alleviate congestion from the increased truck traffic and industry at the port and on Nash Road.

"We're getting into big city problems, and we need some big solutions," he said.

About 30 to 40 trucks from the port and other nearby industries enter Interstate 55 at the Nash Road interchange each day. But with new industries coming to the area, the number of trucks getting on the interstate at Nash Road is likely to increase to more than 200 per day, Overbey said.

With the opening of Consolidated Grain and Barge's new grain elevator in January, more than 100 trucks will journey to and from the elevator each day. Missouri Fibre Corporation also will open a facility at the port next year with estimated traffic of 60 log trucks per day.

Trucks traveling west to Highway 25 from the port now must enter I-55 at the Route AB interchange, then go north to the Dutchtown exit or south to the Scott City exit before turning west toward Highway 25.