City considers traffic changes to protect Rodgers Theatre

Lights and other restorations to the Rodgers Theatre marquee have been completed in advance of two events this week, Restore the Rodgers on Thursday and the premiere Saturday of the HERD.

DAR/Donna Farley

Poplar Bluff City Council members held a vote Monday night they hope will help protect the newly repaired marquee at the historic Rodgers Theatre.

The council authorized the Missouri Department of Transportation to install a sign indicating large trucks cannot turn right onto Broadway from Pine Street, according to the vote.

The nose of the marquee has been damaged twice in the last 12 months by commercial trucks attempting to make the turn, said Wally Duncan, president of the Rodgers Inc. board.

MoDOT will be able to install the sign following the passage, said Matt Winters, city manager. Winters said the timeline will depend on when MoDOT can do the work and it had not been confirmed as of Monday night.

Turning restrictions cannot be enforced until the sign is installed, he said.

The city is also looking at adding a non-mountable curb in that area, Winters said.

“We’re working with MoDOT to get the permit for that,” Winters said, explaining the city street department would install it.

Members of the Rodgers board thanked Winters and council members for their help.

“I know this is a great step forward,” said board member Brent Davis.

The last two truck accidents have caused about $10,000 in damage, board members said. In both instances, insurance from the drivers was expected to cover costs.

“We have seen incredible progress. We work very, very hard for the money we make to repair (the theatre),” said board member Larry Kimbrow. “We’ve spent lots of money on the roof, air conditioning, utilities, drug store, and now the tower and marquee and portico underneath.

“Everything we have takes one step backward every time we have someone damaging the marquee.”

Davis also asked if the city might consider making that block of Broadway one way in the future.

According to the discussion, there has been concern about fire trucks being able to use that block for two-way traffic.

Council member Robert Smith thanked the board of the Rodgers for what they do.

“The place looks wonderful,” Smith said.