Bloomfield Road safety issues

My neighbors are correct that Bloomfield Road should be scenic and safe. Unfortunately, that is not the case today. The narrow, winding road sustains heavy traffic, and over the last three years more than 30 injury accidents and one death occurred -- more than all other Transportation Trust Fund 4 projects combined.

The newly designed road will be 32 feet wide. By incorporating the current ditch widths, the design calls for very limited tree removal. Property donated by myself and Dalhousie Golf Club provides additional right of way for a hiking and biking trail and a corridor for underground utilities, thus reducing the tree destruction that would be caused by installing overhead utility lines.

We agree that many of the accidents are caused by the speed of drivers. However, it is difficult to control speed on the current narrow roadway where police cars cannot park without blocking traffic.

The functionally obsolete interchange at mile marker 93 of Interstate 55 and Highway 74 contributes to the traffic using Bloomfield as a shortcut, but even an upgraded interchange will not solve the future traffic issues. As the expansion of residential neighborhoods continues along Bloomfield Road, it will still be necessary to rebuild the roadbed due to the additional traffic. The structurally deficient parts of the road need to be modified for safety while minimizing the scenic damage. It is my belief that city staff has done everything possible to keep Bloomfield Road scenic while providing a safer environment for the driving public.

EARL NORMAN, Cape Girardeau