BISTATE HIGHWAY PLAN COULD BENEFIT CAPE

Overwhelming public support for the improvement of Highway 34 across Southeast Missouri and a call by Illinois' two gubernatorial candidates for a new highway across Southern Illinois are good indications that a long-needed east-west route across the region might come about.

The Missouri Department of Transportation recently held public meetings in Jackson and Marble Hill on the proposed improvement of the 85-mile stretch of Highway 34 between Jackson and U.S. 60 near Van Buren. Those who attended, including about 100 people at Marble Hill, urged that the department proceed with an upgrade of the twisting, two-lane highway.

Then last week, Illinois democratic gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard and Republican hopeful George Ryan said they would support a feasibility study for a new four-lane highway across Southern Illinois. The candidates spoke about what has been called Interstate 66, a project put forth by its supporters as a new transcontinental highway. Chances are slim that the interstate will ever come about soon. But the candidates' endorsement of a feasibility study for a highway corridor in Southern Illinois is encouraging, particularly since the Illinois Department of Transportation has said it can't afford to consider a new highway.

A good east-west highway across Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois has been needed for a long time. An upgrade of Highway 34 from Van Buren to Jackson and an east-west highway from Cape Girardeau through Southern Illinois, tying in with east-west Interstate 24 near Metropolis, Ill., would provide such a route.

The Missouri Department of Transportation also plans to improve Highway 34 around or through Jackson to relieve congestion between there and Cape Girardeau. That project will be designed to funnel traffic to the new Interstate-55-Highway 74 interchange at Cape Girardeau. The new four-lane Highway 74 through the city will cross a four-lane bridge being constructed across the Mississippi River here. A new highway across Illinois would tie in nicely with all of the Missouri improvements.

Few who have traveled the indirect two-lane routes that lead to I-24 or I-57 would argue against a new highway being built in Southern Illinois. With that highway and Missouri's improvements, a good east-west route would finally be in place for the region.