MoDOT celebrates completion of U.S. 60 four-lane project with caravan

SIKESTON, Mo. -- After 21 years of work U.S. 60 is now a four-lane highway from Sikeston to Willow Springs, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

"We are pleased that the Route 60 four-lane project has been completed," said Mark Shelton, Southeast District Engineer for Missouri Department of Transportation. "This will provide safer, efficient travel between Sikeston and Willow Springs."

The completion of the project means that U.S. 60 is now a four-lane road from Springfield to Charleston, a distance of about 240 miles.

"It is a tremendous accomplishment to folks from Charleston and all the way to Springfield," said Ed Dust, director of economic development for Sikeston.

Dust also worked for the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the committee that started the U.S. 60 project in 1989.

"We had meetings and meetings on top of meetings. Slowly, we got through the first phase which was Sikeston to Poplar Bluff and then all the efforts from a different district -- from Van Buren to the west -- followed," Dust said.

Bill Robison, planning manager for MoDOT's Southeast District, said over the years the U.S. 60 project has included several phases.

"The southern corridor -- from Sikeston to Dexter -- was opened several years ago and then the Dexter to Poplar Bluff and Butler-Carter County line. The last three years we focused on sections from Van Buren to Fremont to Mountain View and on west to Willow Springs," Robison said.

Missouri Department of Transportation is marking the milestone with a caravan celebration Aug. 13. It will begin at 9 a.m. at Booster Field in Willow Springs and conclude at 5 p.m. at the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop E Satellite in Sikeston.

"We knew from the start of the Route 60 four-lane project we would have some sort of ceremony, and the caravan is a good opportunity to highlight some of the towns and businesses along that route," said Nicole Thieret, community relations manager for MoDOT's Southeast District.

Thieret said MoDOT expects 20 to 30 vehicles driving along the caravan. The schedule of stops along U.S. 60 includes the Community Center at Mountain View, Twin Pines Conservation Center in Winona, First Community Bank in Poplar Bluff and the Dexter sign at Dexter.

"For each of the events, it's an opportunity for us to get out and thank the towns and individuals who've worked so hard, we'll be recognizing those individuals and celebrating with the folks," Thieret said.

Having U.S. 60 in four lanes will have a positive impact on the economy, Dust said.

"The four lanes across the southern part of Missouri opens up southern Missouri to economic development we would never have a shot at without the four-lane highway," Dust said. "Most industries want to be on a four-lane highway for transportation of their goods."

Robison noted as roads are built in the state, there's economic activity associated with that. Data supports the fact counties with four-lane highways have higher populations, higher average wages and higher household income, and when looking at major four-lane corridors, like Interstate 70 and Interstate 40, businesses inside them account for 36 percent of all the jobs in Missouri, according to MoDOT reports.

"If we invest $1 in transportation in Missouri, it generates $3 to $4 of economic activity," Robison said.

The completion of four lanes on U.S. 60 will also enhance the safety of the corridor, Robison said.

"Separating the westbound from the eastbound traffic as we're doing on 60 across the southern part of the state provides more recovery area for vehicles and provides more free-flowing movement on the route," Robison said.

Robison commutes from Dexter to Sikeston every day.

"For me personally, living in Stoddard County and Dexter, 60 is our primary route," Robison said. "Going from two-lane with gravel shoulders to four-lane with paved shoulder is like night and day."

Dust recalled driving U.S. 60 when it was a two-lane roadway.

"Part of 60 between Sikeston and Dexter was famous for causing broken windshields. If you got off the edge (of the road) and it often threw rocks up," Dust said.

Meanwhile, Dust said he wouldn't miss the caravan celebration next month and even plans to take a group from Sikeston to ride in it.

Dust said: "I feel fortunate to live long enough and stay employed in Southeast Missouri to see it done."