Route AB extension now open

Safety was cited over and over again as the biggest benefit of the Route AB extension, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the new road Tuesday.

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, past and present Cape Girardeau County commissioners and State Representatives Billy Pat Wright and Ellen Brandom were on hand for the ribbon cutting, moved inside the Missouri Department of Transportation garage off Route AB due to rain.

"I remember several years ago a couple of farmers lost their lives up on the 74 and 55 interchange in tragic accidents," said former Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Larry Bock. "Hopefully, we can keep that from happening now."

The new four-mile road gives trucks direct access to SEMO Port without having to drive on Interstate 55 from Highways 74 and 25.

The $6 million project included acquiring right of way for the extension, construction of Route AB to connect the Highway 74 and Highway 25 interchange, and a roundabout at the intersection of the three roads. A combination of county, state and federal funds financed the project that has been in the works since the late 1990s.

Federal, county and state officials cut a ribbon to signify the opening of Route AB, the final phase in a $6 million project to improve driver safety and spur economic development in the area. Due to rain Tuesday morning, the ceremony was forced indoors at the Missouri Department of Transportation garage off Route AB. (MELISSA MILLER)

MODOT representatives said several accidents were reported each year at the Highway 74 and Highway 25 interchange in the 10 years before the roundabout was constructed.

With the addition of Route AB, engineers realized the traffic pattern at the intersection would change.

"At rural intersections like this throughout the state, when traffic patterns change there is a tendency for the number and severity of crashes to increase," said engineer John Bechtold, senior traffic studies specialist with MODOT's Southeast District.

"In order to minimize the impact of this change in traffic pattern a roundabout was selected to control the traffic at this intersection," he said. "Statewide roundabouts have been effective at reducing the number and severity of crashes at intersections."

Roundabouts improve safety in two ways, first by requiring drivers to reduce their speed before entry making crashes that do occur likely to be less severe, and secondly they only require drivers to focus on traffic approaching from one direction at each conflict point, reducing the chances that drivers will be involved in a crash, Bechtold said.

Since the completion of the roundabout last year, there have been no crashes reported at this intersection, he said.

"It takes vision, it takes tenacity and sometimes it just takes a while to get things done," said Mark Shelton, district engineer with MODOT. Emery Sapp and Sons worked throughout the summer on the paving of the Route AB extension. Cape Girardeau County highway department crews prepared the road bed for the project.

Area business owners who attended the ceremony said they hope the new road will bring more traffic to their businesses.

"This will increase my business because I'll have people coming from the interstate, going South on 25 where otherwise they might go a different route and miss Delta," said Rick Cobb, owner of Delta Lube & Tire. "I think it's a great thing to have."

Roger Moore, who owns The Roundabout bar and grill at the Blomeyer junction, said Tuesday was a "fantastic day" for his small community.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Highways 74 and 24, Blomeyer, Mo.