CENTER JUNCTION EFFORT COULD GET RESULTS

A plan that would permit improvements to be carried out at Center Junction sooner than the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department can get them done is an approach that appears to be a practical way of improving the intersection while stepping up planned development around the interchange.

Under the plan, a not-for-profit corporation will be formed between developer Jim Drury, who owns land around the interchange, and Cape Girardeau County and the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

To improve traffic flow and facilitate the development around the U.S. 61-Interstate 55 interchange between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, commonly referred to as Center Junction, the westbound lanes of U.S. 61 would be moved closer to its eastbound lanes, and I-55 access ramps would be moved to improve turning movement.

MoDOT does not anticipate making the improvements until 2005 or 2006. Through the corporation, made up of the three governments and the developer, about $8 million in construction bonds could be issued to pay for the cost of the improvements, and MoDOT could buy back the improvements in 2004. Meanwhile, the developer would put in businesses that would generate sales taxes to the local governments and help offset the costs. A Tax Increment Financing district also could be set up.

A key element of the plan -- one that must be worked out by the state-imposed deadline of March 1 -- is a contract with MoDOT to buy back the improvements. Also, the developer must agree to develop the land around the interchange. And Cape Girardeau County, Cape Girardeau and Jackson must agree to pay the up-front costs of construction.

A St. Louis law firm is in the process of putting together an agreement between all the parties, which have been discussing possibilities for stepping up the interchange improvements for years. Everyone is pretty well in agreement with the plan, which should be in place by the end of the month.

It is good to see that local government officials and the developer can put their heads together to come up with a plan to get the improvements done ahead of schedule. Undoubtedly, a new spirit of cooperation between Cape Girardeau and Jackson has helped spur the effort, and the county is a willing participant.

The effort shows what can be done when everyone works together toward a common goal.