Cairo begins fundraising for new intersection

The Village of Cairo is working with MoDOT to open a new intersection north of the Mid America Pipeline/Enterprise Products on the Cairo Outer road. MoDOT has developed a final plan and has offered the community a 50/50 cost share. The cost of the intersection is $250,000, making Cairo’s portion of the project $125,000.

The project is now at the point that the city needs to secure its own funding, since there are no funds available through state or county entities. If the community works together, this can be accomplished through contributions. Contact has been made with Enterprise Products and the trucking companies asking for funding support of this project, but your help in raising the $125,000 is needed. Bank of Cairo and Moberly has opened an account so contributions can be sent directly to the bank at 207 E. Rollins, Moberly, MO 65270. Please note on your check it is for the Cairo Outer Road project.

Village of Cairo has put together a few statistics about the Highway 63/Highway Z intersection:

• Enterprise products reported that 2,000 trucks were filled at the plant from June 1, 2009 to July 1, 2010. That totals 4,000 truck trips in and out of the Highway 63 and Z intersection.

• Intermingled with the propane trucks are at least three school buses twice a day making at least 3,841 trips through the intersection during a school year.

• Buses also make school activity trips such as academic contests, field trips, baseball, softball, golf, track and basketball transporting at least 50 students.

• If a school event is held at the school, parents, relatives and friends from not only Northeast R-IV will be driving into and leaving Cairo, but parents, relatives and friends from the opposing school.

• Countless vehicles going through the intersection for local business, church activities, etc.

Another point that needs to be considered is the amount of propane that is transported through the intersection by these 2,000 trucks. Propane expands at a ration of 270:1, so any incident at the intersection or the propane terminal would require evacuation of the city. Evacuation would have to be accomplished by outside sources as any spark from starting a vehicle could ignite the propane vapor.

Village of Cairo is involved in constructing this new intersection for the safety of our community, the propane transport drivers and trucks, as well as school buses, students, parents and local patrons. This intersection will be located 1 ½ miles north of the Enterprise terminal on the Cairo Outer Road giving truckers, school buses and local traffic an alternate route to and from highway 63, therefore decreasing the amount of traffic through the current intersection.