I am writing about a serious concern regarding the traffic issues and explicit danger of the intersection where Pioneer Road/Highland Baptist Church Road meets Highway-A in Hillsboro, MO.

As anyone who travels this area knows, it is fraught with danger. Vehicles back up (in the median) on Highway-A trying to make left turns onto Highland Baptist Church Road coming from MO-21. In addition, vehicles tend to travel through this area at high speeds, exceeding the posted limits. 

Local residents (coming from MO-21) hoping to turn right onto Pioneer are often tailgated and sometimes even rear-ended. Vehicles coming from the Festus area to turn right onto Highland Baptist Church Road present another danger—as cars back up behind them, try to go around them (in on-coming traffic), or they make the turn at the same time that vehicles leaving Highland Baptist Church Road move into the intersection. This includes our local school busses. 

This is a very high traffic area, and records show the multitude of, both, minor and serious accidents that have occurred over the last few years—and it is only a matter of time before there is another serious accident—or more than one—resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. 

I realize that some of the excessive traffic in this area is a direct result of new construction and community expansion. But based on the increased desire to relocate within the Hillsboro School District, I don’t see this population expansion concluding anytime soon.

Therefore, it is my suggestion that the residents of Hillsboro, Festus and surrounding communities get together to petition local officials and the State of Missouri Department of Transportation to put a traffic signal/light at the intersection of Highway-A and Pioneer/Highland Baptist Church Road in Hillsboro, MO.

I know I am not the only one who feels their loved ones are in danger each time they utilize this intersection—that is evident by the sheer volume of traffic in the area during both morning and evening rush hours. Perhaps we can remedy this hazard with the installation of a traffic light, including left turn signaling, before we regret not doing so.

Sincerely, 

Austin Martin