More ‘J-Turns’ Planned For Highway 50; Public Meeting Set

The Missouri Department of Transportation has spent significant time over the last few years working on areas of U.S. Highway 50 between Sedalia and Kansas City; next up are improvements in Powell Gardens in Johnson County.

MoDOT says it's working on intersection improvements near Powell Gardens to improve the corridor's safety, including the construction of J-turns. Specifically, MoDOT will construct J-turns and close median crossovers from 3500 feet east of NW 1601st Road to 3500 feet west of NW 1601st Road. The total project length is just under a mile and a half.

MoDOT says this is necessary because traffic volumes are three times higher than when the highway was built in 1967. In the last five years, there have been 17 crashes at intersections along this stretch, including 14 right-angle crashes and three deaths. MoDOT says eliminating median crossovers and using J-turns will reduce right-angle crashes.

Next Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Missouri Department of Transportation will hold an open house-style meeting from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM CDT in the north meeting building at Elm Spring Baptist Church, 567 NW 1601st Road, in Kingsville.

If you're unfamiliar with MoDOT's open house-style meetings, there will be no formal presentation on what MoDOT has planned. However, people are welcome to attend, learn about what MoDOT has planned, ask questions, and leave comments.

Also, MoDOT will accept comments online from 4:30 PM on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, to 11:50 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

Construction on the project is scheduled to begin next summer, and motorists should expect some short and long-term closures on Highway 50. However, the roadway will remain open to traffic. Some minor details could be required for local traffic on intersecting roadways.