Jackson intersection gets needed upgrade

Jackson motorists are being inconvenienced for a few days to allow to the construction of changes at a major intersection that should prove to be a big improvement when it's completed.

Another left-turn lane is being added for southbound traffic on Shawnee Parkway at Jackson Boulevard. And the four-way stop at Old Cape Road just a short block away is being changed to a two-way stop, which means traffic on Old Cape Road will still have to stop, but traffic on Shawnee Parkway won't.

Both of these moves are intended to improve traffic flow through the intersection, which is considered to be the worst bottleneck in Jackson.

Shawnee Parkway is a major artery for a large area of homes in Jackson. Old Cape Road is a used by many motorists as a cross-town alternative to some of the other east-west routes. The changes will likely result in a major shift in driving habits.

One thing that could improve the situation more would be a stoplight at the Jackson Boulevard-Shawnee Parkway intersection that allows more time for traffic to move through. Such a change is up to the Missouri Department of Transportation, since Jackson Boulevard is both a state and federal highway.

A demand signal at the intersection, along with the changes currently under way, would go a long way in improving traffic flow.