A public hearing by the Missouri Department of Transportation is set on Tuesday, Aug. 20, on a plan to improve highway safety by constructing a new 1.3 mile access road to North Callaway High School.
The hearing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the North Callaway High School Cafeteria, 2700 Highway 54 in Kingdom City.
Gidget Mott, MoDOT project manager, said no formal presentation will be offered at the meeting but various project displays and maps will be available.
"The public is encouraged to ask questions and provide input," Mott said. "All comments will be taken into consideration and made a part of the project file."
The $1.6 million project includes construction of a new access road to westbound U.S. 54 starting at the current intersection of County Road 148 and the school access road. The new 1.3 mile access road will run parallel to U.S. 54 and connect with Old Highway 40 to the south of the current school access road intersection.
Southbound traffic to U.S. 54 West will no longer be able to cross the high-speed highway at the current grade crossing near County Road 148 and the school access road.
Instead, drivers wanting to enter U.S. 54 West will travel along a newly constructed access road connecting with Old Highway 40 to the south.
A new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of U.S. 54, Old Highway 40 and Route FF. The change will not disrupt driving distances by people wanting access to North Callaway High School because southbound traffic from the school intends to drive south along U.S. 54 anyway.
Northbound traffic from the current County Road 148 and school access road intersection will be able to enter U.S. 54 East at the current school entrance with a newly constructed northbound acceleration lane leading to eastbound U.S. 54, which also will improve safety at the access point with the school.