PLANNING PROCESS WILL HELP DEVISE GOOD ROAD SYSTEM

Good highways are the backbone of commerce and industry as well as providing good access for motorists going to and from work or other destinations. Rapid growth in areas like Cape Girardeau County has put considerable stress on the some highway routes. Now the Missouri State Highway and Transportation Department is taking a fairly scientific approach to finding out what changes and improvements need to be made in this area.

A St. Louis firm, Environmental Science & Engineering Inc., is conducting traffic surveys, traffic counts and focus groups to get a snapshot of highway needs in the county. Like so many other major projects, good planning is an important part of the process.

When the city of Cape Girardeau was considering a sales tax for transportation needs, a series of hearings resulted in the development of a priority list of projects. This is the same idea being used by the highway department. The intent is to ask folks in the area what they would like rather than simply imposing a plan.

This is a good step. Along the way, the highway department should pay close attention to traffic flows, particularly in the fast-growing areas of northern and western Cape Girardeau and through the heart of Jackson.

Meeting the needs of industrial development also is an important consideration. As already has been pointed out, extending Nash Road near the southern city limits would provide crucial access to areas designated for industrial growth.

All in all, the highway department's first-ever attempt to take this approach to planning in Southeast Missouri is a welcome process. Motorists who are asked to stop and answer survey questions or residents who are asked to participate in special meetings will be making a major contribution to the future development of a good highway system.