Editorial -- Dangerous Intersection at 136 & Mozingo Getting Out of Hand

There is a growing traffic problem at Mozingo Lake at the intersection of 136 and Liberty Road, the road that goes to Mozingo Lake.

Recently, one of our friends attempted to turn out of Mozingo. When you turn right from Liberty Road onto 136, there is a very small acceleration lane, and drivers trying to enter 136 cannot see over the hill just east of the intersection. Our friend didn’t see a car coming over the hill, had a near-collision, and the driver of the other car tailgated her and honked at her for miles. The speed limit for 136 is 60 miles per hour, and most drivers go five miles per hour over the limit, which means that if there is a car coming over the hill, there is little time for drivers turning onto 136 to react.

We ourselves have driven 136 past Liberty Road regularly, and we have had to slow down many times because of turning traffic from Liberty Road. It becomes even more dangerous for us if there is a car tailgating us from behind who thinks that Route 136 and any other road with a 60 mile per hour speed limit is a blank check to treat our roads like the NASCAR races.

It is even worse for vehicles which are pulling a camper or boat and can’t accelerate as quickly. Had the incident in question involved a vehicle towing a boat or camper, there would have doubtless been a collision and possibly an injury. And it is even less safe for farmers trying to use the road to get to the pasture, haul hay, or get their cattle or crops from the farm to the market, which is the reason why our politicians built our road system the way it is.

While the Mozingo Lake project is doubtless an economic boon to the area, it won’t grow as much as people would like unless the safety of people who wish to use it comes first. The Missouri Department of Transportation should not wait until there is a fatal car wreck or road rage incident before making needed changes for the safety of everyone who wishes to enjoy Mozingo.

While the DOT can’t control anyone who is prone to fits of road rage, and they can’t control anyone who sees roads like 136 as a NASCAR race track, they can take measures that ensure the safety of the rest of us who just want to get from point A to point B in one piece.