Editorial

OUR VIEW: Final payment made on Highway 67 north improvements, with great things to come

Saturday, February 6, 2021

The evolution of Highway 67 from a cow path connecting rural farmsteads to future Interstate 57, helping tie together a nation, started nearly a century ago.

A 24-foot graded and graveled road was constructed in 1922, starting north of Hendrickson and coming to Poplar Bluff.

In 2021, that road is now four lanes of pavement stretching all the way to St. Louis.

And the 50 miles between Poplar Bluff and Fredericktown are now fully paid for, thanks to the efforts of Poplar Bluff residents.

That milestone was reached this week, although with less fanfare perhaps than when the first gravel portion of the road opened for our grandparents and great-grandparents.

The final payment on the four-lane expansion of Highway 67 has been made, city manager Matt Winters announced Thursday during a special city council meeting to consider grants for the fire department.

The last payment was made 14 years earlier than expected.

Poplar Bluff residents voted in 2005, by a 2-1 margin, to create a one-half cent sales tax to pay for the road improvements for Highway 67 north.

The sales tax was expected at that time to run until 2035.

Poplar Bluff ultimately contributed less money than expected to the project because of additional grant money that was awarded, and because of a growing sales tax base.

Former city manager Mark Massingham attributed more than $200 million in new commercial construction since 2011 and over $64 million in commercial remodeling or additions, to the economic boon provided by Highway 67 north improvements.

Improved safety also came with the divided highway.

A traffic crash analysis showed that Highway 67 north averaged about 93 accidents per year between 2003-2007, according to Bill Robison of the Highway 67 Corporation, with information taken from a Missouri Department of Transportation traffic crash analysis.

The 67 north project was completed in 2011. The average number of accidents dropped to 69 accidents per year for the years 2013-2015.

Highway infrastructure brings development. It brings jobs. It brings economic possibilities to a community.

For Poplar Bluff, growth and prosperity have followed the expansion of Highway 67 north.

We want to thank the residents of Poplar Bluff for believing in that vision, and for supporting in 2019 a similar measure to make improvements to Highway 67 south.

We look forward to all of the great things to come.

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