Joplin Area Transportation Study Organization meeting

JOPLIN, Mo. — Jasper and Newton County officials meet with representatives from MoDOT and the US Department of Transportation regarding a highly anticipated local road project.

The Joplin Area Transportation Study Organization or JATSO hosted the meeting at Joplin City Hall Thursday (3/28).

One of the main topics of conversation: The current state of the Missouri Highway 171 and 249 corridor project.

JATSO board members discussed how it’s still their number one priority, but new information was revealed. Before work can begin, changes might need to be made to the Carthage fidelity intersection — but not everyone’s on board just yet.

“When they announced they are going to redo the ‘fidelity intersection’ I was thinking, and I have voiced my opinion, that they should take those funds and redo the Carthage interchange and remove the I-49 traffic, thus reducing the accidents,” said Carl Francis, City Administrator for Webb City.

“You want to take some time to study that question, pull together all of the important information, and come up with the best answer that you can,” said Joplin Director of Public Works, Dan Johnson.

Johnson says the public will be asked to comment in the coming months.

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