Traffic study recommends $8.6 million in road improvements
By Chandra Huston, Staff Writer, Branson Daily Independent
The long awaited final report of a traffic study of the downtown area was finally released at the Branson Board of Aldermen’s special work session with the Taney County Commission on Thursday, March 20.Berger Devine Yaeger, Inc. representatives Dane Ismart and Gary Vandelicht presented the final report of Phase One to the board, with the recommendation of roundabouts for several roads.
Phase One looks only at Business 65, Skaggs Road and Box Car Willie Drive if there were a fully developed Branson Landing.The series of three roundabouts would be on the U.S. Highway 65 southbound ramps and Highway 248 as well as the northbound lanes and on Business 65 at Skaggs Road, Parnell Drive and Box Car Willie Drive.
BDY Inc. also recommended four lanes for Box Car Willie Drive from Main Street across Roark Creek to the intersection of Skaggs Road and Business 65, additional lanes between Business 65 and U.S. Highway 65 and the interchange to Skaggs Road, widening the bridge over U.S. Highway 65 to four lanes and an additional lane on Highway 65 northbound on the onramp.
Ismart said there are two alternatives for the city. Alternative One consists of widening the bridge over Highway 65 to four lanes, adding two additional lanes on Business 65, creating an extension with four lanes for Box Car Willie Drive and making a five-legged roundabout. The alternative would cost the city an estimated $8.6 million.
Alternative Two consists of widening the bridge over Highway 65 to six lanes, adding two additional lanes on Business 65 and creating an extension with four lanes for Box Car Willie Drive. The alternative would cost the city an estimated $10.1 million.
Ismart said the company recommends Alternative One. “These improvements will handle your traffic coming into and out of the Branson Landing development through the Business 65 north corridor,” he said. “By saying handling, I mean it will be an acceptable level of service for the year 2010.”
Some residents said roundabouts could make the traffic problem worse. “I don’t think it’s going to work,” Bob Schanz said. “You are just going to have traffic backed up in the roundabout. All you need is another bridge over Taneycomo.”
Taney County Commissioner Don Swan questioned how tourists would be able to navigate a roundabout. “For that little old man or lady it’s going to be confusing,” he said. “A stranger to our city will not know where to turn and will end up going around and around in circles.”
Ismart said the improvements would require “major reconstruction” and more land would have to be acquired.City Administrator Terry Dody said there is $10 million set aside of a total of $28 million in the budget to deal with traffic problems.