Moore traffic, more problems

By Gan Mathews, NEWS 9

New development in Moore along Interstate 35 is positive for folks living in that area, but the traffic problems this is causing is a big negative.

26,000 vehicles cross the 19th Street Bridge over I-35 every day.

Contributing to the congestion are 11,000 vehicles southbound on I-35 that exit at 19^th and head west toward Wal-Mart. Add in two stoplights, and, oh my!

"In the evening, it's just a mess," said Moore resident Stan Hudson. "You can't go to Wal-Mart. You can't get off to go to Wal-Mart because everybody else is going to Wal-Mart."

City officials know all about the traffic troubles. They've got a master plan to address them. Topping the list is a plan to make the 19th Street Bridge five lanes, instead of four. The extra lane will be a designated turn lane.

"As long as we keep building up Moore and wanting it to become a big time city, you know, adding on the movie theater, I don't think widening is going to make any difference," said Moore Resident Chris Schwiezer.

A longer term and higher cost improvement is a proposed bridge over the interstate at 34th Street.