Shawnee Boulevard intersection likely to reopen Friday

Jackson's busy intersection of Shawnee Boulevard that has been shut down for construction since last Monday will likely open up again Friday, about a week ahead of schedule.

The stretch of Shawnee between East Jackson Boulevard and Old Cape Road has been widened to accommodate an additional turn lane.

Barring wet weather, Todd Kluesner of Kluesner Concreters said the road should be opened by Friday afternoon. Kluesner also said the Scott City company is waiting for the Missouri Department of Transportation to put in a signal head.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.

Kluesner said the construction is ahead of schedule "because we had good weather and because we've got a bunch of hard-working guys who knew how to get the job done."

Kluesner added that the demolition portion of the project went quicker than expected.

The news that the intersection will open ahead of schedule is welcome to the thousands of residents who use it daily and even some who don't.

The construction has affected traffic all over town.

Traffic was brutal at first, public works director Rodney Bollinger said, but motorists began to find new ways around town.

"I think people are finding more back roads than ever before," he said.

Paul Brugger, of 330 Donna Lane, is just a hop and a skip from East Jackson Boulevard, but his usually quiet street has been turned into a major city artery as a detour route.

"We get a lot of traffic on this now," he said. "Really, it's more than I expected. I thought they might direct the traffic in a different direction, but we're seeing that most cars come this way. We have more noise and it's hard getting out from the driveway onto the street, the problems you might expect from traffic."

Lorraine Roderick, of 305 Shawnee, said the detours haven't been that bad, but she's looking forward to improvements.

"I think it will be better for us on Shawnee," she said.

The improvements will include adding a left-hand turn lane on Shawnee and removing the stop signs on Shawnee as well.

Prior to the improvements, traffic turning from East Jackson Boulevard would get backed up. By removing the stop signs, it will ease the spillback, but could create another problem on Old Cape Road.

Several residents have expressed concerns about removal of the Shawnee stop signs.

Mayor Paul Sander said he's willing to give the Crawford, Bunte and Brammeier traffic and transportation engineering firm the benefit of the doubt that its suggestion will fix the problem. The firm did Jackson's comprehensive traffic study, which was recently adopted by the Board of Aldermen.

However, Sander said he has concerns about the intersection, too, and if it becomes a problem, the city has the authority to make necessary changes.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635