Summary of Leonard and 291 Intersection Improvements

Liberty



Project Number: 1524
Organization: Liberty
Project Name: Leonard and 291 Intersection Improvements
City(ies), County(ies), State: Liberty, Clay County, Missouri
Routes, interchanges and/or intersections: Intersection of Missouri 291 Highway with Leonard Street in Liberty, Missouri.
Primary Project Mode: Highway/roadway 
Supplementary Project Mode(s): * Active Transportation * Freight * Highway/Roadway )
291 Highway (freeway/expressway) is an important connector between eastern Jackson and Clay counties. Leonard Street (minor arterial) was formerly recognized as Missouri 33 and was absorbed into the City of Liberty’s street network. Historically and currently Leonard Street serves pedestrians, vehicles, and freight for businesses in Liberty and beyond. For southbound traffic, the intersection operates at a level of service “D” during morning peak hour and “E” during evening peak hour. 291 Highway represents a blockage for pedestrian movement through the middle of Liberty, Missouri. Public sidewalks currently end to the north of this intersection. Through additional turn lanes the project adds vehicle and freight capacity. Reconfiguring the intersection layout will extend existing sidewalks to the intersection, provide a new and safe pedestrian crossing across Leonard Street, and prepare for future pedestrian access along 291 Highway.
Project Purpose: * System operations and management )
Project Description: Intent of the project is to improve traffic flow at a congested intersection and provide pedestrian interconnectivity. Currently, during peak periods approximately 2,400 vehicle per hour enter the intersection with 3 percent of the traffic consisting of heavy trucks. These numbers are expected to grow in the future. 291 Highway also serves as a blockage for pedestrian movement through middle of Liberty and this project serves as step to resolving this issue. Primary users will be vehicles, trucks, heavy trucks with freight, and pedestrians.
Scope: The project includes approximately 1,050 feet of improvements along Leonard Street, 500 feet of improvements along 291 Highway, and replacement of the existing traffic signals. Specific improvements include the following: •Due to the skew of the existing intersection and large radius turn lane for traffic traveling from westbound 291 Highway to northbound Leonard Street, high speeds are maintained during this turning movement. To improve safety at the intersection for both vehicles and future pedestrians, this project converts the skewed intersection into a standard 90 degree intersection with standard turn lanes. •Current dead end sidewalks located to the north of the intersection will be extended to the intersection and across Leonard Street. Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings will meet American’s with Disability Act requirements. Future sidewalks and trails along 291 Highway will be able to connect to this project allowing for pedestrian connectivity and removal of a historical pedestrian/bicycle blockage. •Southbound traffic is currently served by one lane for left turn movements. A right turn lane peels off of the left turn lane. During peak periods southbound traffic operates at a level of service “D” during morning peak hour and “E” during evening peak hour. The additional of a second left turn lane improves the level of service for this turning movement. •The gas station located northwest of the intersection has two entrances located near the 291/Leonard intersection. During peak periods southbound vehicles on Leonard Street block both entrances. Vehicles entering and exiting the gas station utilize both entrances and “force” their way into and off of Leonard Street creating a safety issue. This project proposes to remove the entrance closest to the 291/Leonard intersection and with the second southbound left turn lane, traffic ques across the remaining entrance will be reduced. •Eastbound 291 Highway to northbound Leonard Street traffic has a short storage bay. Storage is increased with this project to accommodate projected this current traffic issue. The turning radius will also be increase to allow larger vehicles to make the turn without off-tracking.
Funding Source: MODOT
Total Budget in 2019 Dollars: $2,000,000
Decade: Illustrative
Application Score: 85
Constrained / Illustrative: Illustrative
Priority: Medium
Adds Capacity: Yes

Submitted comments

Please note, only public comments are available for review, which may differ from the total shown on the project listing page.

Catherine Franssens said...

Of all the projects, I feel like this should be a top 3 priority. This area is very frustrating for motorists as we navigate with all of the commercial fleets. Additionally, this area is an eyesore to those coming into Liberty from the south.

8/27/2019 11:49:46 AM


Kimberly Bell said...

This project should be a priority, not only is it congested and difficult to navigate with large vehicles, it’s an eyesore and many safety issues as it stands.

8/27/2019 12:15:18 PM


Kimberly Bell said...

This project should be a priority, not only is it congested and difficult to navigate with large vehicles, it’s an eyesore and many safety issues as it stands.

8/27/2019 12:15:18 PM


Jeff Watt said...

Leonard St is the former MO SR 33 intersection to MO SR 291. Again Liberty took over operation of old SR 33 and this is a must project for the area. The city could use some help in cleaning up a challenging intersection given to us. The City considers Leonard/291 as a gateway entrance to downtown and is an eyesore. As well the interchange doesnt function well as it is in the middle of a curve on 291

8/27/2019 1:34:54 PM


Michele Poynter said...

This intersection is awful. The traffic coming out of the gas station is causing dangerous situations, and drivers cut through there regularly trying to avoid the intersection. The station is needed, though. Help them move across to the other side of S Leonard, then use that land for a better configuration of the intersection.

8/27/2019 3:05:52 PM


John Jackson said...

What’s it take to get the immediate intersection just S of the above mentioned taken a look at It’s the only intersection south of Leonard with an obscured view to oncoming traffic. This involves residents in the Jefferson Park Apts. located in Missouri Ct. anytime leaving the complex and trying to travel Northbound on 291 a person has only a yield sign trying to enter the highway. The bridge obscured the view. A Dangerous intersection. The ONLY intersection South the city limits where oncoming traffic views are minimal yet it’s the ONLY one without any lighted traffic signal. Look like this could be included in the Leonard/291 redo.

8/27/2019 11:49:32 PM


lee murdock said...

Leonard St is the former MO SR 33 intersection to MO SR 291. Again Liberty took over operation of old SR 33 and this is a must project for the area. The city could use some help in cleaning up a challenging intersection given to us. The City considers Leonard/291 as a gateway entrance to downtown and is an eyesore. As well the interchange doesnt function well as it is in the middle of a curve on 291

8/28/2019 9:52:11 PM


 


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