Questions about state highway 13. (Kansas City, Springfield: construction, design, horses)

[Newbe10]

Hi all,

From what I have seen, state highway 13 from Springfield to Clinton, is meant to be a four-lane highway. Does the state eventually plan on highway 13 being a limited access freeway from Clinton to Springfield? In Bolivar, from what I have seen, there are interchanges for local roads and highway 13. Does MODOT plan on developing the highway 13 corridor from Springfield to KC as a freeway?

[Arrby]

?????

Mo. 13 is four lane from Clinton to Springfield, and has been for several years. Highway 7 is also four lane from Clinton to US 71 (also now I-49), which is also four lane into Kansas City.

There is no single highway designation for a four lane highway from Springfield to Kansas City, but the highways are, in fact four lane divided all the way.

[northbound74]

My guess is probably. They've made a lot of improvements to it over the years, seemingly working towards limited access.
I'd like to see it done. It probably would create a stronger connection between the two regions.

[christina0001]

I agree with northbound that road improvements seem to be going in that direction, but there are so many local roads that are accessed through Hwy 13, I think at the rate we are going it will be decades before that actually happened. Frankly the amount of traffic on 13 doesn't really many more bypasses and/or less local road access IMO. The traffic on 13 flows very nicely, it's an easy highway to travel even with the local access roads.

MODOT is just starting construction on a bypass on the south end of Osceola to cut down the cross traffic there, but if there is one spot that desperately needs a bypass and/or less local road access, it's the 1/4 - 1/2 area of 13 in Lowry City in between the two big gas stations. There are way too many semis trying to turn in and out and accidents and near-miss accidents occur too frequently. Adding to the mess are local Amish who drive horses and buggies, and the local elderly trying to drive across the highway at a turtle's pace.

[vinix1999]

Originally Posted by Newbe10

Hi all,

From what I have seen, state highway 13 from Springfield to Clinton, is meant to be a four-lane highway. Does the state eventually plan on highway 13 being a limited access freeway from Clinton to Springfield? In Bolivar, from what I have seen, there are interchanges for local roads and highway 13. Does MODOT plan on developing the highway 13 corridor from Springfield to KC as a freeway?

The combined 7/13 route from Harrisonville to Springfield is mostly limited access, but it would take quite a bit more construction to make it totally limited access. You'd have to build a new road around Clinton, and I don't see that happening anytime soon. 71 from KC to south of Joplin is now officially Interstate 49, and it took decades to bring 71 up to interstate standards for that change.