CONSIDER WIDENING I-55 TO SCOTT CITY

The message was clear at two Missouri Department of Transportation public meetings last week: Build a new highway between Cape Girardeau and Scott City. The question to be decided is where to build it.

Interstate 55 carries a lot of traffic between Cape Girardeau and Scott City, an average of 39,790 cars daily. Of those, 3,391 get off on Nash Road and 20,495 get off at the Scott City exit. Of those that get off at Scott City, 14,663 go on Main Street into Scott City. The other 5,832 go on Route M toward Kelso, Chaffee and Benton. Eliminate that local traffic, and there are only 15,934 vehicles per day traveling I-55 between the two cities.

A number of possible corridors -- some involving new highways and some following existing roads -- are being suggested. But each means a new bridge would have to be built over the Diversion Channel, and with its massive flood plain, a very large and expensive bridge would be necessary.

Adding lanes to the interstate, widening the I-55 bridge and either redesigning or building a new interchange at Scott City might be a more economical way of handling the traffic. It should be considered.