PUBLIC MEETING ON ROADS NOV. 7

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) officials want the public's help in making decisions about improvements to three Cape Girardeau County roadways.

"We want to know if any realignment in one area will affect another area," said Larry Rohr, a district highway design engineer. "We want to get the public's input on any improvements for Routes 25, 34 and 72."

The public will have an opportunity to provide comments concerning the three routes next week when MoDOT officials host a public information meeting at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau.

The open house meeting will be held in two sessions to give citizens an option for attending.

Sessions will be held Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and 4 to 7:30 p.m.

"Hopefully, more people will be able to attend with the split session," said Rohr.

No formal presentations will be presented by MoDOT, but the department's Location Study Project For Improvements for the three routes will be available.

The study, prepared by Environmental Science & Engineering Inc., a St. Louis firm under contract with the MoDOT, was conducted to determine the best way to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety and efficient travel into and out of Cape Girardeau County.

"Improvements may include new locations of the routes, and upgrading of existing roadways," Rohr said Monday.

The planned improvements, said Rohr, may have a significant impact on other existing roadways and travel patterns for motorists in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson areas.

"We're encouraging all residents to attend the open house meeting and give the MoDOT their opinions and ideals on any planned improvements," said Rohr.

"It is very important that MoDOT receive this input early in the planning process so that citizens can share their knowledge of local conditions with the study team," added Scott Meyer, Southeast Missouri District Engineer.

The meeting will cover all sections of the three highways in Cape Girardeau County. Highway 25, which starts at Jackson, extends to Kennett in the Bootheel. But the sector to be discussed next week is only that in Cape Girardeau County -- from Jackson, through Gordonville, Dutchtown and Delta to the Stoddard County line.

Highways 72 and 34 sectors include those from west of Jackson to the Madison and Bollinger county lines.