Chemical spill cues Mayor to request designated truck route

Without a designated truck route, large trucks continue to travel throughout the downtown district of Kennett. Staff photo by George Anderson

According to Mayor Roger Wheeler, to his knowledge, a formal request for a truck route had not been previously sent in to the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles. After Monday's incident, Wheeler drafted a formal letter, which he mailed on Wednesday, June 10.

"I hope [MoDOT] will [reroute them]," Wheeler said. "What happened [on Monday] really brings this to light. [Wednesday] was the first time I have ever put [a truck route request] in writing."

Some citizens have been asking why the city cannot just make the route itself, to which Wheeler replied that the road is owned by the state of Missouri.

"[MoDOT] would be glad to turn over the ownership of those roads to the city of Kennett," Wheeler said, "however, currently there are zero dollars in the city's budget for resurfacing or new streets.

Wheeler added that the city has jurisdiction on the road as far as speeding and things of that nature; however, MoDOT does the upkeep. The sidewalks and storm drains are all owned by the city, according to Wheeler, MoDOT just owns the surface.

Steve Hoernig, traffic operations engineer with MoDOT was asked about the possibility of a truck route, to which he responded, "I don't know that we have been formally approached [about a truck route]. We would be open to discuss it with [city officials]."

Hoernig said that a truck route could definitely be a possibility, however, since the highway that travels through Kennett is a state highway, State Highway 84, legally, MoDOT cannot make the large trucks stop coming through town.

"[The highway] is supported by tax dollars and [trucking companies] pay tax dollars as well," Hoernig said. "It is kind of a fine line, but we can possibly work out an agreement with the city, like a preferred truck route or something like that.

"Technically, [the trucks] would probably still be able to come through town, but we would work with the city and any other angelicas that we could, and even try to work with the truckers themselves and say, 'Hey, let's find out the best way to go.'"

Other than the incident on Monday, Hoernig, who has worked for MoDOT for 16 years, said he doesn't recall any other instances where something like that has happened in Kennett.

Hoernig said that although there are some large trucks that come through the town, a truck route was never established because the numbers of trucks are not that great.

"It is not that there are none," Hoernig said, "but it is a relatively small amount. Most of them do not go that way unless they have a reason to. Most of those truckers don't want to have to stop at a stop sign or a traffic signal if they don't have to because then they have to gear down and gear up to start, they waste more time and use more fuel. So they try to find the most efficient way through.

"If they are going through that area, they are either servicing a business in that area or they are going straight through on [Highway] 84 to get out west into western Arkansas or something like that," Hoernig said. "Most of [the larger corporate trucks] don't have a place to deliver [downtown]. They have a better way to get from point A to point B to make their deliveries that they are not going to go through there."

Hoernig said that even if the truck route is not established in Kennett, there is still the possibility that the HAZMAT trucks could be rerouted, with advanced warning given to Kennett's Emergency Management responders.

"There would be some details that would have to be worked out but that is a possibility," Hoernig said.

"I would certainly welcome the opportunity for the hazardous materials to be routed around town," Wheeler said.

Regarding Monday's incident, Wheeler said the odds of such an occurrence happening are very small.

"What are the odds of that happening?" Wheeler asked.

"Somewhere between slim and none. But it did [happen]," Wheeler said, adding that he thought everyone who worked the scene did an excellent job.

Wheeler said that he is very happy and thanks MoDOT very much for the work it has done in the area and the support it has shown the local economy.

Wheeler said he expects a response from MoDOT about the truck route within a few days.