KEY INTERCHANGE NEEDS PROMPT ACTION

News that the Missouri Department of Transportation plans to widen an exit ramp at the intersection of I-55 and U.S. 61 was a welcome recent announcement. The northbound exit ramp off I-55 at the interchange, called Center Junction, will be improved in a $219,340 project. Construction is slated to begin next month and be completed by Jan. 1. A new right-turn lane will be built. The right-turn lane will allow motorists to turn right toward Cape Girardeau without waiting for other motorists to get through the traffic signal.

This project is the most urgently needed of many improvements at the heavily traveled intersection, given the fact that traffic stacks up during peak travel hours nearly every day. During that three-month construction period, motorists will need to use extreme caution and consider using alternative routes when possible.

State officials are turning their attention to this key intersection rather belatedly. As development has proceeded on both the Cape Girardeau and Jackson sides of this intersection, traffic has increased dramatically, with at least one fatality having occurred. The developer who owns an interest in the corners of the intersection has long nursed ambitious plans to develop these tracts, especially the northeast corner of approximately 70 acres. It was approximately three years ago that the developer met with MoDOT representatives in an attempt to arrive at an agreement on how to improve the intersection. At that meeting, four alternatives were discussed, and one was agreed upon by all present to be the most advantageous and cost-effective for all parties. Then, over the next three years -- nothing. As things stand now, there are no plans to build the additional Center Junction improvements any time soon.

In the meantime, state officials surprised many local officials by announcing plans to build the I-55 interchange near Oak Ridge. Given the two projects, few would argue for priority for the Oak Ridge interchange over the long-awaited improvement of Center Junction, which will be a catalyst for millions of dollars of construction and tax-generating development.

All of Cape Girardeau County would benefit by somehow getting the attention of MoDOT officials in order to stress the need for building the improved Center Junction plan. Somehow, a combination of county officials, the developer, economic development experts and state lawmakers need to make the case to MoDOT about the need for comprehensive action to improve Center Junction. We can't wait another decade or more before these planned improvements are completed.