Ideas for a better Kingshighway? Let 'em rip!

Cape Girardeau officials, and others, are looking at the traffic along and across Kingshighway, arguably one of the city's most vital thoroughfares, the other being William Street, which stretches from the Mississippi River to the western boundaries and beyond.

This, folks, is the time to think big. Dream. Break the barriers of convention.

Yes, wild-eyed suggestions are rarely implemented, but sometimes these ideas have nuggets of practicality and wind up setting a standard instead of following one.

To that end, I herewith offer some suggestions for the traffic congestion along the Kingshighway corridor. If you think they are all a big joke, so be it. But I would challenge you to offer your own ideas. It's your blood pressure that's being put to the test every time you come close to the camino real.

No traffic lights

Let's start with this idea: no amber, red and green signals for traffic along Kingshighway or on streets crossing Kingshighway.

Look at what the highway department is proposing for Center Junction, something called a divided diamond, which shifts traffic from one side of the right-of-way to the other to eliminate the need for extra stoplights.

There are ways to let traffic flow unimpeded by signals. Think roundabouts at every major intersection. Or overpasses.

Roundabouts

The city has played with roundabouts long enough to know some designs work, and others don't. The one that works the best handles the traffic at the Independence/Rodney-Gordonville Road intersection. And it works efficiently.

Roundabouts at Cape Rock, Broadway, Independence and William streets along Kingshighway would keep a bunch of vehicles moving instead of being stalled waiting interminably for signals to catch up with the flow of traffic.

How many times have you sat behind the wheel of your vehicle when there is no opposing or cross traffic at any Kingshighway intersection? I'll bet it's more than you can count on your fingers AND your toes, depending how much you get around. And for what purpose.

Overpasses

If you think overpasses are a wild-eyed stretch, just remember that we are dreaming about future traffic solutions, so let's keep in mind that dreams are not bound by reality. But sometimes dreams can result in practical solutions. Really.

What if Kingshighway were crossed by overpasses with access onto the main thoroughfare and onto cross streets impeded only by yield signs?

That would eliminate those long waits for cranky signals to switch from one color to another.

Passports

Yes, passports.

Everyone who must drive across Kingshighway and along crossing thoroughfares knows how traffic scrunches up before, during and after the lunch hour.

I don't have scientific proof, but it appears that everyone who is employed on the east side of the city prefers to eat lunch on the west side. And vice versa.

So, implement a passport system. Hungry employees at west side businesses could, without penalty, eat at any of the fine dining establishments on the west side. But if they crossed Kingshighway, they would need a passport. For an appropriate fee, of course.

The idea would be to encourage folks to stay away from Kingshighway at one of its busiest times. Not to ban anyone, but to make them think twice about contributing to irritating traffic snarls. I think it goes without saying that losing one's temper waiting for a traffic signal is not good for digestion. So this is a traffic suggestion as well as a medical hint. Two for one. What a deal.

Signal sensors

Yes, I know there are sensors embedded in the pavement and there are camera sensors at many Cape Girardeau intersections.

Quite frankly, we don't need more sensors. We need sensors that work. Or sensors that are adjusted to make sense.

Is it really that difficult?

One of the most responsive traffic sensors in the city used to be the signal at William and West End Boulevard. Then "improvements" and "upgrades" were made a few years ago. Now traffic waits for nothing in all directions.

Why?

OK. You get the idea. The city says it wants your input. Let's oblige our elected officials and hired help by giving them every idea we can think of. Who knows what kernel of genius might make its way onto an actual drawing board?

If officials are just playing games by asking for public input, then let's put a halt to the spinning wheels. If officials already know what's going to happen and are using the "public input" phase as window dressing, then say so and move on.

There are ways to fix Kingshighway. Maybe you're munching your Cheerios right now thinking of a good idea. Share it.

It's now or never.

Joe Sullivan is the retired editor of the Southeast Missourian.