The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Business

Discussion

May 4, 2010

Wally Kennedy: Posed traffic light remains an issue

By Wally Kennedy Globe Staff Writer

JOPLIN, Mo. — Every once in a while, I will start at the south end of Range Line Road and make it all the way to the north end without having to stop for a traffic light. It depends a lot on time of day and time of year.

So that got me thinking about the possibility of a new traffic light on Range Line at East 29th Street. One could be installed there to seal a deal with Hy-Vee Inc., which wants to build a grocery store on the former Ford dealership property. How might a new traffic light affect the flow of traffic?

When a new signal was proposed at East 17th Street and Range Line in connection with the construction of 1717 Market Place, I had my doubts about whether that was a good idea, with the signal being so close to the traffic lights at East 15th Street and East 20th Street. But that issue hasn’t amounted to much.

A signal at 29th Street might be problematic for southbound traffic coming over the railroad overpass. Would drivers have enough time to stop? Conversely, it could be a plus for businesses on the north side of the overpass, such as Sutherland’s and The Great Wall, because the signal would create traffic gaps for motorists who want to make left turns from those businesses. Right now, making a left turn from either of those businesses can be dicey.

But what do the people with businesses at that intersection think? Rick Malcho, with Derailed Commodity, and Donna Reed, manager of Motel 6, said they would favor a new signal as long as it did not restrict access to their properties, which are on the east side of Range Line. Reed said she has observed accidents in that area and believes a signal could improve safety.

Steven St. Clair, with Import Warehouse, just north of the proposed Hy-Vee location, said he favors the grocery store coming to Joplin, but he is “very concerned with the issue of installing a traffic light in front of their location on Range Line. My major concern is the southbound traffic coming over the bridge into backed-up traffic at the proposed stoplight.”

St. Clair said he has seen traffic backed up over the railroad overpass because of accidents or stalled cars.

“Once the traffic backs up to the bridge, it definitely causes a visual hazard to vehicles cresting the bridge,” he said. “Next comes the squealing of tires.”

The project is in the negotiating and feasibility stage, said David Hertzberg, Joplin’s public works director.

“Things are progressing,” he said. “They (Hy-Vee) have hired a transportation consultant. It’s about getting to a compromise and creating a win-win situation for everybody.”

Hispanic clinic

On Wednesday, Dr. Gary Hamlin will offer free medical care to senior Hispanic patients in the All Ages Medical Care Clinic near the J.C. Penney court at Northpark Mall.

Hamlin, a family physician, will see senior Hispanics at no charge between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Translators will be available.

Hamlin said he is focusing the day on Hispanic seniors because they too often go without medical care to make sure their children have such care.

Road closure

It will be interesting to see what effect today’s closing of a stretch of East Seventh Street will have on Range Line and East Seventh Street commerce for the next four to five months.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is closing a bridge a half-mile east of Duquesne. The bridge closure is part of the larger effort to convert East Seventh Street to five lanes from Duquesne to Highway 249.

No through traffic will be allowed on that stretch of road during the closure. Local traffic will have access to homes and businesses.



If you have news about something that’s happening on Range Line Road, dial 623-3480, Ext. 7250; or send an e-mail to wkennedy@joplinglobe.com; or send a fax to Wally Kennedy at 623-8598.

Text Only
Business