MoDOT holds public meeting to discuss Route 61 studies in Jackson

JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) – The Missouri Department of Transportation held a public meeting Thursday at South Elementary in Jackson to discuss three studies along the Route 61 corridor.

Curt Woolsey is the transportation project manager for MoDOT, and he said studies like the department is conducting in Jackson require public input, especially in the early stages. 

“It’s the residents in Jackson that drives this every day, they know the traffic flow, they know concerns, so we just want to hear what they have to say,” he said.

The studies include a corridor study on Route 61 from the north interchange near Fruitland to the Route 25 intersection in Jackson, and intersection improvement studies at the 61/Shawnee Boulevard and 61/Donna Drive intersections. 

“We’re trying to design 20 years out on projected traffic volume growth,” Woolsey said.

Jackson resident Rick Brown lives on Donna Drive just off Route 61, so he attended Thursday’s public meeting to learn more about the proposed changes at this intersection. 

“The right-hand lane addition to Jackson Boulevard to Donna Drive would be great, and we think taking Kimbel Lane up to the stoplight and then closing Kimbel Lane would be great for the traffic,” he said.

The improvements at this intersection are the only ones that have funding, as they are funded for the 2027 fiscal year. 

Woolsey said conducting studies like these is a vital step in developing conceptual plans and cost estimates. 

“In order to look at funding options, we will do these traffic studies to come up with estimates and conceptual plans, so that when money becomes available, we can go ahead and fund the projects,” he said.