Orchard Road underpass is nearing completion

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Friday, June 05, 2009
Updated: Friday, June 5, 2009 10:59 AM CDT

BONNE TERRE — Planning took a lot of time but the actual construction of the Orchard Road interchange has taken just a little more than a year.

On Thursday, local and state officials, and residents gathered at Parkland Health Center North for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the near completion of the Orchard Road underpass.

Cheryl Ball, southeast Missouri assistant district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), said it was about a year ago that they all gathered there for a ground-breaking ceremony. The nearly $8 million Old Orchard Road underpass and outer road project began last May by Iron Mountain Trap Rock.

“Look how far we’ve come,” she said.

But she quickly added she knows it seems like forever since local officials first started talking about an Orchard Road interchange.

She said many people made the project a success.

State Sen. Kevin Engler credited former State Rep. Brad Robinson for working so hard to get the project going. He said they also wouldn’t have done the project without U.S. Sen. Kit Bond who got some money earmarked for the project.

Engler thanked everyone who had a part in the project. He said they were able to save money on the project.

He said it will be an economic benefit to Bonne Terre and to the county. It will also save lives.

Tom Schulte of U.S. Sen. Kit Bond’s office reminded people of all the lives that have been lost in crossover accidents on U.S. 67. He said a lot of progress has been made the past few years to improve safety on U.S. 67.

Ball said she hopes to not see any more crosses added.

Other speakers at the brief ceremony were Bonne Terre Mayor Fritz Gower, Heather Garner of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson’s office and State Rep. Linda Fischer.

Gower had the duty of cutting the ribbon. Afterward, MoDOT officials gave pieces of the ribbon to some of the speakers as keepsakes.

Ball said initially the project was scheduled to wrap up in late summer/early fall. In spite of snow and rain, the project will finish months ahead of that schedule.

She said they should have the northbound on-ramp open in about a week, depending on weather. Then a week or two after that, they will close the crossovers at Stormy Lane, McNail and Weible Roads, leaving right-in, right-outs on the northbound side.

The project included the addition of a new Raider Road and two roundabouts.

Bonne Terre Sgt. Bill Stegall said some people have had problems with the roundabouts, but it’s not turning out to a problem police feared it would be.

So far, he has made one traffic stop for a motorist going the wrong way in the roundabout. There have been no accidents related to the roundabout.

He said the first roundabout on the hospital side was a good warm-up, getting people used to the idea of roundabouts before the second one opened.

Big River Fire Assistant Chief Allen Stegall said they really like the roundabouts. He has not heard any complaints about them.

An employee at Parkland complained of several problems, however. And others have observed high school students passing each other in the roundabout.

Gower said people are just now getting familiarized with it. He said there is some confusion until you get familiarized with something new. He said the most confusing part for motorists has been trying to figure out how to get to the hospital. He said they are looking at adding another sign.

Tim Richmond of MoDOT said roundabouts are the safest and most efficient thing to put at an intersection like this. He said the other roundabouts in the state have been pretty well received. He said there were little problems with the one in Perryville.

Bonne Terre isn’t the only local community with a roundabout. Park Hills has one near the high school.

Lt. Doug Bowles said initially they had some problems. After the first week, there haven’t been any problems of which he is aware.

Motorists are to yield to other motorists already in the circle. The vehicles in the circle shouldn’t have to stop for those not yet in the circle. Motorists travel counter-clockwise.

Hedgeapple Lane extension project

Later Thursday afternoon, community members were invited to attend an open house at City Hall to discuss and get information about the Hedgeapple Lane extension project.

The plan is to close the crossover at Hedgeapple Lane and extend Hedgeapple Lane to meet Northwood Drive. Another part of the project is to add extra turn lanes at the Route K/Highway 47 traffic lights.

The estimated cost will range from $1.1 to $1.4 million.

According to MoDOT, this construction project was added to their 2010-2014 STIP (Statewide Transportation Improvement Program) earlier this year.

After the public review period of the program ends today, comments will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. The commission will review the comments and the final transportation program before considering it for approval July 8.

The project could start as early as the spring of 2010, with completion in the fall.

Some residents were excited about the project.

Others had concerns.

One concern was that the right-ins, right-outs at Hedgeapple would be eliminated and residents in Big River Hills would have to drive back to Bonne Terre to go north or south on U.S. 67.

MoDOT employees said part of justifying the project was that they were going to make U.S. 67 safer by eliminating the crossovers and right-ins and right-outs.

A few asked about placing a stop light at Northwood and Route K due to the congestion, especially when school gets out or the prison has a shift change.

A MoDOT employee said a stop light there would likely be too close to the other stop light and cause problems. One said when the northbound on-ramp at Orchard opens, some of the motorists will start taking Orchard Road instead of Route K.

A woman who lives on Berry Road shared her concerns with county and state officials about the Big River bridge north of Bonne Terre being closed, forcing people to have to use the Hedgeapple Lane and Cash Lane crossovers. She asked how many more accidents have been caused because this bridge has been closed.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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