U.S. 36 Now Complete
Four lanes extend across north Missouri
By Catherine Stortz Ripley, Constitution-Tribune 
July 07, 2010

Good roads promoters worked tirelessly for decades to ensure that the most modern highway was developed and maintained across north Missouri to help sustain small towns.

One must wonder, now, what the workers of yesteryear would think to see not only a major highway across north Missouri, but a four-lane highway that stretches from Hannibal to St. Joseph.

CT Photo/Laura Schuler

CAPTION: U.S. Highway 36 is now four-lane across Missouri. A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place this Saturday in Macon. The event marks the completion of the last 52 miles of the highway to be four-laned. Supporters say having four lanes across the state means greater safety and enhanced economic development.

This Saturday, those who carried the torch after the early promoters passed on will gather at towns along the east stretch of U.S. Highway 36 in Missouri to commemorate the completion of the last 52 miles that were opened to four-lane traffic with a formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Having the highway four lanes across the state means greater safety and enhanced economic development, according to Ed Douglas, of Chillicothe, who is president of the U.S. Highway 36/I-72 Association and a former chairman of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. "We know statistically, that there is a 70 percent reduction in fatalities when a two-lane road is changed into a four-lane road," Douglas said.

Douglas also reflected on a demographic study completed years ago which found that the population of every town in the 20th century that had a four-lane road to it had grown; however, the towns that did not have the four-lane road, shrank. Douglas is one of two masters of ceremonies for Saturday's celebration.

In reflecting on the history of developing the highway, Douglas said he is impressed by the efforts of many people from more than 50 years ago through the present day who worked to develop the highway. "What amazes me is the time and work by so many people over a long period of time," Douglas said. "They pushed for a little bit of it at a time and all of that made a terrific difference."

Charles Adams Photo A delegation of good roads promoters left from Chillicothe to explore the condition of Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway around 1919. From left, C.F. (Frank) Adams, George Adams, C.A. Adams (seated), and Harry Graham. The photograph was taken in front of Adams Automobile and Supply Co. The Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway connected New York to San Francisco. Cities, towns, counties and states paid for the privilege of having the highway come through their town. The route closely followed what is Highway 36 today.

Chillicothe Newspapers File Photo "Save 5 hours driving. Travel U.S. 36, Denver to Indianapolis," was the slogan of a group of Highway 36 boosters who visited Chillicothe in 1956. Left to right are Shannon Fryrear, chairman of the highway committee of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce; Mrs. L.L. Atha, executive secretary of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce; H.C. Edwards, vice president of the National U.S. Highway 36 Association; Lewis Anderson, vice president of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce; I.F. Bowen, president of the national U.S. group, and Barry Paris, president of the Chillicothe Chamber.

He said that although many of the early supporters have passed on, there will be several representatives from Chillicothe attending Saturday's celebration, including Ken Churchill, Gordon Smith and Bob Staton Junior. Churchill, who grew up near Meadville, said that he recalls when the original U.S. Highway 36 was built in the 1920s with the use of mules and horses.

Douglas also applauds the citizens in the counties of Macon, Shelby, Monroe and Marion who passed a half-cent 15-year sales tax to make the last 52 miles of highway four lanes.

For more details, visit MoDOT...