JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation has formed a Safe Access Team to recommend improvements to the Route 36 intersection near South Shelby High School as it prepares to widen the highway to four lanes.

“Route 36 will be four lanes across the state by 2010, which will bring much safer travel to north Missouri,” said MoDOT State Traffic Engineer Eileen Rackers, who will lead the team.  “We need to make sure getting on and off the new highway will be safe as well.”

Community and school officials have expressed concerns about the intersection, saying the traffic volume and inexperienced drivers will make school access hazardous once the new four-lane highway is complete.  “These community leaders deserve credit for thinking about safety well in advance,” Rackers said.  “Safe highway access is always part of our early planning process, so we’re happy to create this team to make sure all options and concerns are considered.” 

The Safe Access Team is comprised of MoDOT engineers with expertise in traffic engineering, safety and design, as well as a representative of the Highway Patrol and the superintendent of Jefferson City Public Schools.  No team members have been involved with the project, which will help bring fresh ideas to the table.  The team will study traffic patterns and crash data, gather public input, review existing plans and new alternatives and evaluate available funding. 

The team will develop access options and present them to community and school officials by the end of the year.