The Missouri Department of Transportation and Missouri Highway Patrol Troop G will implement a Travel Safe Zone on two sections of U.S. 63 south of West Plains, starting Nov. 4.
Travel Safe Zones will be designated on a 5.4-mile stretch of South U.S. 63 from Creamery Road to north of County Road 9370 between The Bridge Church and Legit Speedway in Howell County, and a 4.7-mile stretch in Oregon County from County Road 366 near McClain Forest Products in Koshkonong to County Road 360 near K-Kountry 95 Radio Station in Thayer.
MoDOT officials say the Travel Safe Zone is being designated after a highway safety analysis showed the number of fatal or disabling injury crashes in the selected areas is greater than the average on similar highways. MoDOT uses Travel Safe Zones to improve safety of a clearly defined road segment, officials said. Established by state law, Travel Safe Zones increase fines for moving violations and raise public awareness in an effort to reduce the number and severity of crashes in the marked zones.
According to MoDOT, the designation of a Travel Safe Zone allows for increased law enforcement efforts, including the possibility of double the normal fines for traffic violations that happen in the zone.
The beginning and end of each zone should be marked with signs. An end date for the designation has not been specified, but MoDOT's Engineering Policy Guide suggests a two-year time limit for the designation and points out local ordinances are not required to establish a Travel Safe Zone where the speed limit has been established by state law.
Both West Plains and Thayer are outside the zones and each has a police department to enforce local traffic ordinances.
Otherwise, Troop G of the Missouri State Highway Patrol has jurisdiction over the affected areas on the highway.
Speed limits on south U.S. 63 between West Plains and Thayer are reduced near Brandsville and Koshkonong, and as motorists approach Thayer city limits.
Highway patrol reports show that, since August 2023, there have been traffic crashes resulting in three fatalities on South U.S. 63, 11 serious injuries, seven moderate injuries and four minor injuries. From about March through June the stretch of highway from West Plains to just south of Koshkonong was a work zone, with a bridge replacement and paving work being done during that time.
It was noted in one of the patrol reports that a crash that resulted in a serious injury happened in a construction zone.
