Jefferson County officials have determined that a sharp increase in traffic on John McKeever Road due to the closure of Hwy. W in unincorporated Eureka poses a safety risk for motorists.
To avoid the closure, many westbound motorists are taking Byrnesville Road to John McKeever Road to Hwy. FF, said Public Works Director Jason Jonas.
County Councilman Bob Tullock (District 7, House Springs) said when motorists turn left from John McKeever Road to Byrnesville Road, they have limited sight distance.
Tullock said he’s received complaints from residents in his district about the John McKeever and Byrnesville Road intersection. John McKeever Road falls within District 1, represented by Councilman Brian Haskins; however, a section of Byrnesville Road is in District 7.
“There are large trees, weeds and overgrowth at the corner (of John McKeever and Byrnesville roads), and it’s hard to see around it,” Tullock said. “When you stop at the stop sign, you can’t see the oncoming traffic – you have to pull out onto the road, or pretty close to the road, to see.”
Public Works officials have determined through a recent traffic study that two temporary stop signs will be added on Byrnesville Road near the “T” stop intersection with John McKeever Road to avoid collisions. The new stop signs and three-way stop will be up by Monday, May 12, the Public Works Department reported in a written statement.
Public Works crews have already painted a white stop bar on John McKeever Road closer to Byrnesville Road, allowing motorists a better sight distance before they pull out, the report said.
Northbound and southbound lanes on Hwy. W between Boemler Road and Twin River Road in the Jefferson County portion of Eureka were closed April 10 for the foreseeable future to allow maintenance crews to make emergency repairs, MoDOT reported.
MoDOT decided to close that section of Hwy. W after heavy rains and flooding caused extensive damage to the road.
MoDOT spokeswoman Rachel Sudduth said on May 1 that the Department is waiting for the results of a geotechnical report before a determination about reopening the road can be made. The study will provide details on how the slide occurred and how crews can fix the road.
A Public Works traffic study conducted in April shows that more than five times the average number of daily travelers are taking John McKeever Road to avoid the Hwy. W closure, from 688 vehicles per day in March to 3,674 in April.