SIKESTON-The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing to discuss plans for improvements to the intersections of Kingshighway/Mount Auburn Road and Route W/Lexington Avenue. The meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Osage Centre, located at 1625 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.
The meeting will have an open-house format, so visitors can stop by to talk one-on-one with a member of the project team anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. No formal presentation will be given.
The project will include increasing capacity and traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Kingshighway and Mount Auburn Road. Additionally, a multi-lane roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Route W and Lexington Avenue.
The signal improvements will include adding dual left turn lanes from Mount Auburn to Kingshighway, from Kingshighway to Lexington and from Lexington to Kingshighway. Additionally, a dedicated right turn lane will be added from Kingshighway to Lexington.
The need for improvements at the Route W and Lexington Avenue intersection was identified through the public involvement process for Cape Girardeau's Transportation Trust Fund program.
"Improving the intersection of Route W and Lexington Avenue is desired because certain traffic maneuvers are difficult," said Project Manager Tim Richmond. "As traffic growth continues, this issue could worsen."
Richmond explained the challenge was to find a solution that would safely improve access to and from the north and south legs of the intersection without causing additional delays on Lexington Avenue.
"After looking at traffic models, a roundabout is better suited for this location than traffic signals," he said. "A signal would only bog traffic down due to the intersection's close proximity to Kingshighway."
The project is expected to be awarded in January 2013, with construction beginning in spring 2013.
Online Meeting Information: Multi-Lane Roundabout
- Handout
- Simulation: Aerial with Roundabout
- Simulation: Navigating the Roundabout
- Simulation: Signals vs. Roundabout
Online Meeting Information: Signal Improvements