Public comment period open on proposal to reduce lanes on Pine Street

Traffic is stopped on Pine Street at Fifth Street.

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A public comment period will be open until Dec. 4 on a place that would reduce lanes on Pine Street, between 10th Street and Highway B.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has proposed eliminating one eastbound land and one westbound lane, while adding a turn lane.

“This started as an effort to address a curve east of the bridge that shows more crashes than expected when compared to similar roadways,” said MoDOT Project Manager Curt Woolsey. “As we conducted an analysis, consulted with Federal Highway experts and worked with a consultant to study the area, it become clear this could also improve traffic flow.”

The upgrade could be completed in conjunction with the upcoming project to resurface Business 60 from Highway W to Highway B.

“The resurfacing project is anticipated to be let in April 2025, with completion of the project anticipated in fall 2026,” said Woolsey.

He explained this would be the right project to pair with a road diet, which is why MoDOT is currently reaching out to stakeholders and local residents to get their thoughts.

A meeting in October with city and county officials has already generated comments — opposing the change.

The meeting included Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers, Poplar Bluff Fire Department Chief Mike Moffitt, Poplar Bluff Police Department Chief Mike McClain, Chairman of the Highway 67 Corporation Bill Robison, city council member Barbara Horton, Presiding Butler County Commissioner Vince Lampe, Interim City Manager Lori Phelps, Black River Coliseum Director Greg Smith, and others.

None came forward in support of the measure when the question was raised by Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter.

Traffic will become backed up and congested, they contended.

“Firetrucks are going to have to deal with this traffic. We’re going to be stuck in traffic... Your turning lanes are going to be full. Your east- and westbound lanes are going to be full. We’re going to have nowhere to go,” Moffitt said at that meeting.

As far as the benefits, Woolsey explained in a press release Friday, with a current rate of approximately one crash per week, MoDOT anticipates a reduction in crashes if the road diet is implemented. It would also provide more green time for mainline traffic because the dedicated left-turn lanes at the signals would allow both eastbound and westbound traffic to go at the same time. Flashing yellow arrows for permissive left turns would also be installed for side streets.

“The other thing we have heard as we started this conversation is that lanes are narrow. As you drive along Business 60, you can see this with cars staggering in either lane instead of opting to drive side-by-side,” he added.

The road diet would allow for wider lanes and a two-to-three-foot buffer space between pedestrians and traffic.

To learn more or share your thoughts, please visit www.modot.org/PBRoadDiet. Comments will be accepted through Dec. 4.