Delayed safety improvements on road where deadly crash happened set for next year
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The road where a fatal crash happened Saturday was supposed to have safety improvements installed years ago, but the project was delayed due to its cost and large scale.
A man died after hitting another car head on in the 2900 block of Forum Boulevard, near Wilsons Fitness Center Saturday.
Construction for the Forum Boulevard Improvement project is now set to begin in the summer of 2027, but it was first proposed in August of 2015. According to a city memo, the project is estimated to cost $12,300,000.
The project will make the road a 4-lane section to both the north and south lanes, with a potential 5-lane for turns. It will include construction of a new bridge over the Hinksons Creek.
Two roundabouts will be added at Katy Lane and Woodrail/Crestwood. Medians will be added to locations of the roads that experience higher accident rates. Improved bike lanes and sidewalks. And an expansion of the pedestrian tunnel on the MKT trail to accommodate the road construction.
A main point of the project is the additions of medians that will make the Wilsons Fitness Center exit a right turn only.
"Wilson's has always been a difficult to come out and make a left," Former Ward 5 councilmember Don Waterman said. "In fact, the design that I last saw, it was actually going to be a right only out of Wilson's and right in only."
One of Wilson's members, Dylan Carter, told ABC that he sees residents treat Forum Road like a highway instead of a residential area.
Carter said that he remembered when the road had fewer businesses, and it was fine, but with the addition of all the nearby businesses, there isn't enough room on the road for the traffic now.
Waterman said that since the project was proposed, he has supported it because of how much it will benefit the community.
He said that Columbia only had four large roads that run north and south, including Highway 63, Forum Boulevard, Providence Road, and Scott Boulevard. Waterman added that, just like the I-70 Improvement Project underway, the road closures during the construction will be a burden, but worth it in the end.
"Right now, Forum is the only one that isn't four lanes, two each way. So I think it's something that's that's needed," Waterman said. "It's going to be an inconvenience. But when it's done, I think it'll benefit the community as a whole."
The project will also benefit the bikers and pedestrians who travel on the road, according to Waterman.
"There's a lot of joggers along that stretch of road as well," said Waterman. "I think the plans are there to benefit them as well. So I just as a whole, I think it's a benefit to the community and that's why I supported it."
Current Ward 5 councilmember Christina Hartman did not respond for comment.
