U.S. Route 65 Corridor Upgrades in Multiple Counties

Will U.S. 65 be closed during construction?

U.S. Route 65 will remain open during construction. Drivers can expect occasional lane closures and lane shifts. 

How come there are only a total of 9 passing lanes being proposed?

Numerous passing lanes were vetted and reviewed. Traffic analysis and segment prioritization were evaluated along corridor segments based on anticipated safety and operational benefits. Final prioritization and selected passing lane sites weighed cost, safety and operational benefits. 

Will there be any accesses removed as a result of the passing lanes constructed?

Driveway access may be consolidated to remove multiple access points to a property.

Will the roundabouts accommodate large truck movements?

Yes, roundabouts are designed with a truck apron to accommodate large vehicles like semi-trucks, school buses, farm equipment, etc. Additionally, oversize overweight trucks frequent the corridor, therefore additional trucks aprons have been included in the design.

Will any of the state routes be closed during construction?

There are no plans to close U.S. Route 65 during the roundabouts or other roadway improvements. However, Missouri Route 73 and Truman Road will be CLOSED during the roundabout construction. Drivers will be directed along a signed detour for the closure of Truman Road. No such detour is planned for the roundabout at Missouri Route 73, and drivers are urged to find alternate routes.

Why were roundabouts chosen for this project instead of traffic signals?

The configuration of a roundabout forces traffic to slow down and eliminates right-angle crashes by directing all traffic in the same direction.  At the same time, roundabouts allow for a smooth flow of traffic and eliminate the unnecessary delays experienced at signals.

We have roundabouts throughout our 21-county district that are functioning well and providing the safety and traffic flow benefits we anticipated.  Other high-speed (55 mph or greater) locations include U.S. 60 and Route 43 near Seneca, Route 96 and Route 171 north of Carl Junction, Route 96 and Route 43 near Webb City, U.S. 166 at Downstream Casino, three locations along U.S. 160 in Willard and Route M at Repmo Drive (Republic High School).  We also have numerous locations on roadways with posted speeds below 55 mph, including urban areas and interstate interchanges.  These roundabouts are designed specific to each location, with some locations serving more truck traffic than others, but they all provide improved safety and traffic flow.

All the national studies and data show roundabouts to be the safer improvement.  Before and after studies based on multiple locations throughout the U.S. show that converting two-way stop-controlled intersections, like U.S. Route 65 and Truman Road, to a roundabout lead to an 82% reduction in fatal and injury crashes. Our experience with roundabouts in our own district has also shown that to be true. 

Will any property be impacted?

The new construction will require the acquisition of right-of-way and temporary easements from numerous property owners. Please review the exhibits for additional information. A Right of Way representative will be contacting affected landowners to begin the acquisition process. For more information on the acquisition process, please see the Pathways of Progress display above.