SCOTT CITY PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

SCOTT CITY -- Mayor Tim Porch is trying to get officials of the Missouri Department of Transportation to understand traffic needs in Scott City.

Residents are continually complaining and upset about delays and back-ups at the Interstate 55- U.S. 61 exchange. MoDOT is aware of the problem, but no one has yet to offer a solution.

Porch and other city, county and regional officials met with MoDOT officials Thursday afternoon in Sikeston during a consensus-building session. Porch also met last week with MoDOT and other Scott City leaders to talk about the community's problem.

"I think they're sincere," Porch said. "They know that it is a safety problem. The main issue for us is to get a better interchange and an alternate route to Cape."

Prior meetings between Scott City officials and MoDOT have been held to talk about the traffic congestion that affects the 15,000 motorists who travel the roads at the interchange.

The problem arises because traffic exiting or entering I-55 must stop for traffic crossing on Routes K and M. An added problem exists because of an interchange ramp with U.S. 61.

Specific problems identified:

* Traffic backing up onto the Interstate when exiting I-55 southbound.

* Traffic back-ups along Main Street (Route K) in Scott City near the interchange.

* Traffic traveling along Route K going west toward the high school slows vehicles on the same route that want access to the interstate or U.S. 61.

* Traffic from Kelso, Chaffee and the school must wait on Interstate traffic before moving through the area.

"The state has a responsibility to make improvements that save lives," said District Engineer Scott Meyer. "Inconvenience is important, but saving lives is our No. 1 priority."

Based on a safety study by MoDOT, the traffic backing up onto southbound I-55 is the highest priority. However, it is only a problem in the evening hours.

Vehicles coming off the interstate have about double the amount of green-light time that the other traffic in the vicinity has, Meyer said.

Kim Graviett of Kelso suggested placing a sign to warn approaching motorists of possible traffic congestion around the Scott City exit.

MoDOT is still trying to obtain right of way for a left-turn lane off the ramp, but there is limited space between the existing road and the railroad tracks.

"We need to make sure we can make it fit," Meyer said. "The prospect is very preliminary."

The second priority is to keep traffic moving smoothly through Scott City. A preliminary engineering study of a plan to connect James Street to the northbound I-55 ramp awaits approval of the Federal Highway Administration.

The project was suggested by Bob Hamil of Scott City.

Since few, if any, city streets connect with highway ramps, the proposal requires federal approval, Meyer said. The project could cost $155,000.

MoDOT, which would fund the entire work, would also need a letter of endorsement from the Scott City Council before the project could proceed. "If the city is in favor of this improvement, we are in favor of this improvement," he said.

The proposed solutions to Scott City's traffic problems are only short term, Meyer said. But any future improvements like an additional interstate lane between Scott City and Fruitland or an interchange at Route PP in Kelso are not on the current list of projects. Funding is already allocated through 2004.

Part of the consensus-building session was to allocate money to five different modes of transportation in the state. Porch said he would have taken his allotment and used it entirely on fixing the Scott City interchange.

Part of the problem is that nothing happens quickly and money has to be available to pay for designs and projects, Porch said. "We're just going to keep the bell ringing so that they hear it."

MoDOT welcomes suggestions on the issue. Call the customer service line at (888) ASK-MODOT with suggestions.