THE PUBLIC MIND: DRIVER: CAPE GIRARDEAU INTERSECTIONS NEED STREAMLINING

Dear Editor:

Well, I just arrived home after being delayed again by the latest in Cape Girardeau's attempts to ensure local motorists are faced with the slowest and most frustrating road conditions that can be designed by demented traffic engineers. I am referring to the new intersection of Kingshighway with Mt. Auburn/Lexington/Route W.

During the past five years, I have always been able to navigate my way through the old intersection with a minimum of delay. Now it seems like I often have to wait two minutes or even longer at the new traffic lights before I get to proceed on my way. This would not be so distressing, were it not for the fact that much of the time I spend waiting, there's no traffic proceeding through the intersection.

The problems are easy to identify - long back-ups during the rush hours, and unnecessary waits when traffic is light. How could these be solved? Some suggestions might include the following:

1. Return the center turn lane to its original width. In the process of rebuilding the intersection from a three-way to a four-way, the center lane was widened more than 4 feet. If the narrower center lane is of adequate width the whole length of Kingshighway, then why does it need to be so much wider here? Narrowing the center lane, and realigning the northbound lanes a few feet to the west on Kingshighway would provide adequate space for a right turn lane, allowing north-bound Kingshighway traffic headed for Lexington and Route W to turn without being delayed by traffic waiting to go straight ahead, thus helping eliminate rush-hour traffic backups.

2. Get rid of the left turn red arrows! While a left turn green arrow is clearly necessary, traffic in all directions should be allowed to turn left with appropriate caution anytime the straight-ahead traffic has a green light. There is more than adequate visibility to allow cars to safely turn left.

3. These lights need to revert to a flashing yellow (on Kingshighway), flashing red (Mt. Auburn and Lexington) mode during non-peak periods. Having to sit and wait on Sunday evening at 9 p.m. when not one other vehicle entered the intersection makes no sense. A minute or two may not seem like long, but when the wait it totally unnecessary, a minute is far too long.

4. The sharp turn at the end of Kingsway where the old Route W intersection has been removed (another mystery - why remove the old intersection - it could have at least been used for northbound Kingshighway traffic to turn right, further cutting down on congestion at the new intersection) needs to be improved.

While I know state planners have significant input on intersection design when state highways and state money are involved, it seems time that the city government and city council start looking at ways to improve traffic flow throughout the city, and protest inefficient design to state engineers when it is obvious as it is in this case. Unnecessary congestion is not desirable any time, but when it occurs after large amounts of taxpayers' money has been expended, supposedly to improve an intersection, it is really distressing. Come on Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Fischer - it is time to start eliminating unnecessary traffic congestion in Cape Girardeau. Let's start by streamlining this intersection!

Peter Gordon

Cape Girardeau