Columbia business petitions against Business Loop 70 exit closure
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A business on Business Loop 70 has started a petition to pressure the state not to close a ramp that brings traffic in from Interstate 70.
Lee's Tire started the petition because of its location near the ramp. The petition says the closure will hurt business on the Loop by reducing traffic.
Austin Stidham family owns Lee's tire company. He said every car that drives past his store could be significant.
"Every car that comes off that exit is potential customer," said Stidham
The Missouri Department of Transportation said on Sept. 13 that it intends to remove the I-70 exit ramp at the Business Loop and the bridge over eastbound I-70, west of the Highway 63 connector. The ramp requires vehicles to exit the interstate on the left instead of on the right.
Kirsten Munck, MoDOT area engineer for Boone County, said the exit ramp is uncommon for some drivers.
"It's a nontraditional exit ramp to the left; most motorists don't expect that," said Munck.
MoDOT said in a news release that studies indicate crashes may be reduced by as much as 25% to 70% with the use of right-side ramps over left-side ramps. The agency said 2,800 vehicles take that route every day, and the I-70 interchanges can serve the existing ramp demand at Range Line Street and the Highway 63/Broadway exit.
Stidham started the petition against the possible change. The petition had more than 1,150 signatures at midday Tuesday with a goal of 1,500.
"If we have a 1,100 now, we can have two to five thousand, and you know who knows, maybe even ten," but the signatures didn't come easy for Stidham.
"I turned to local businesses, and I just went door to door asking if they would support a coalition," said Stidham.
The public comment period regarding the ramp removal closed Monday. Stidham said although the date has passed for public comment, he still wants to be heard.
Munck said they welcome the public input when possible, and all factors will be considered before a decision is made. "we did review his petition…we are reviewing the comments contained in that as well," said Munck.
Click here to check out more details about this ramp project.
