Camden Point citizens finally see long awaited changes to E Highway

ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo Cars pass by the intersection of E Highway and Elm Grove Road on Friday, Aug. 14 in Camden Point, Mo., shortly after a ribbon-cutting ceremony held to commemorate the reopening of the roadway. After a lengthy process, Platte County officials were finally able to level off a hill to make safety improvements due to lack of sight line. Citizens have long been worried about the danger and used a petition to help start the process. CAMDEN POINT, Mo. — A curious motorist stopped to enquire about the throng of people gathered at the intersection of E Highway and Elm Grove Road on Friday, Aug. 14. After receiving an answer from a Platte County Sheriff’s Office deputy, the woman excitedly said, “Yeah. Love it.”

Government officials, workers on the project and most importantly citizens turned out that day for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the reopening of Highway E, shut down for about 45 days to create a safer intersection. The nearly $300,000 project, a cooperative effort of Platte County and the Missouri Department of Transportation, leveled off a hill to eliminate a blind spot, removing about 5,600 cubic yards of material from the site.

The road opened to the public on Thursday, Aug. 13.

“This project is an example of what cooperation looks like,” said Greg Sager, director of Platte County Public Works.

ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Aug. 14 to commemorate the reopening of E Highway after a 45-day closure. After a lengthy process, Platte County officials were finally able to level off a hill to make safety improvements due to lack of sight line with the intersection at Elm Grove Road. Citizens have long been worried about the danger and used a petition to help start the process. Residents along Elm Grove Road who pushed for the change were among those in attendance along with Platte County director of public works Greg Sagar and second district commissioner Duane Soper.

In his position for 11 years, Sager remembers citizens coming to him with concerns about the intersection.

However, there was no record of fatal accidents at that spot, so it did not qualify to receive safety funds from the state. Eventually, citizens — including Bill Collins, Cynthia Martin and Laurie Holden — started a petition to seek help and received unanimous support from the community in their efforts.

Emergency personnel in the area agreed with the concerns, especially with heavy farm and agriculture traffic in that area. In 2013, MoDOT measured the line of sight and found it did not meet regulations, which allowed for project funding.

In all, about 200 people signed the petition.

“We appreciate your support,” Martin said.

Landowners donated right of way to ease the project, which required moving a large amount of earth and utility work.

Holden, who lives on one corner of the intersection, said she endured multiple power outages in overnight hours to allow workers to complete the job. However, she downplayed the inconveniences and complimented the diligence in completing the project, which was done on time and on budget.

The budget even allowed for a small portion of Elm Grove Road on the north part of the intersection to be paved, improving drainage to keep gravel from washing onto E Highway.