The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning to improve safety and traffic flow at two New Madrid County intersections. A public meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 to discuss the upcoming project. The meeting will be held at MoDOT's Southeast District Office, located at 2675 North Main Street in Sikeston.
"Visitors can stop-by anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. to discuss the details of the project with a member of the project team and provide their comments," said Project Manager Jason Williams.
The project will include reconfiguring the Route 60/Route E intersection and Route 60/Route FF intersection in New Madrid County with j-turns.
"Traditional intersections have approximately 42 conflict points. J-turns can help reduce this number to as few as 24 conflict points," said Williams. "In addition, these types of conflict points do not typically lead to as severe crashes."
To navigate a j-turn, instead of crossing two lanes of traffic, drivers will turn right in the same direction as traffic and then safely merge into the left lane to turn. Drivers will then turn left to rejoin traffic on the divided highway.
Intersection improvements could begin as early as spring 2016, with completion anticipated by fall 2016. As work is underway, Route 60 will be reduced to one-lane traffic in each direction at times near the intersection locations. In addition, short-term median closures will be necessary at times.
Online Meeting: