James River Freeway

SPRINGFIELD--  It's one of the busiest corridors in Springfield. The city of Springfield hosted a brain-storming session Tuesday night on ways to make improvements to the James River Freeway/Campbell Avenue corridor. The public meeting is part of a 12-month-study looking at the stretch of Campbell between Battlefield Road and just south of James River Freeway. Springfield leaders are concerned about the safety of the road, the traffic congestion and the travel delays in an area that is a key economic center.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - One of south Springfield's busiest intersections will begin to feel a tight squeeze over the next few weeks as work continues on converting it to a diverging diamond interchange. Northbound drivers on Kansas Expressway at James River Freeway will see traffic restricted to one lane beginning April 22.  Two southbound lanes will remain open, transportation officials said; however, those lanes will shift to the northbound side of the bridge. Lanes will be reduced to 11 feet in width as well.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Information on criteria for building a wall to reduce highway noise that reaches homes next to James River Freeway (U.S. 60) between Kansas Expressway and Campbell Avenue will be covered in a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24.  The Missouri Department of Transportation meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at Remington's, 1655 W. Republic Road.   A short presentation will be given promptly at 5 p.m. when MoDOT engineers will present...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The city of Springfield wants to hear public input on long-term improvements to a major southside corridor that has proved problematic for travelers wanting to get somewhere in a hurry. Tonight at 5 p.m., representatives from the city and MoDOT, as well as project consultants, will meet with the public at the Library Center to gather input and brainstorm on ways to improve the James River Freeway and Campbell Avenue corridor. The meeting, free and open to all, provides a venue for all parties to discuss issues surrounding the corridor as well as answer questions.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The transformation of a major interchange began Monday.  Crews started working on the Kansas Expressway (Missouri 13) at James River Freeway (U.S. 60) interchange in southwest Springfield.   They'll change it to a diverging diamond. Missouri Department of Transportation officials say the project includes rebuilding a section of pavement on Kansas and repairing the bridge deck over the freeway. Officials say congestion at the intersection is increasing as left-hand turns from Kansas onto the freeway compete with drivers navigating through the area.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Walmart continues its renewed push into the Springfield grocery business. The company has submitted plans for a third Neighborhood Market, to be located at 545 W. EL Camino Alto Dr., southwest of the intersection of S. Campbell Ave. and James River Freeway. The plot is near the corporation's newest Springfield Sam's Club store. Walmart said its Neighborhood Markets are scaled down versions of Supercenters, and sell mostly food items. The concept stores also offer a pharmacy along with a limited selection of health/beauty, stationary, and pet products.

SPRINGFIELD -- A local businessman wants to buy land from the city of Springfield in the hopes of rezoning the property to make way for a retail, office and multi-family development. Matt O'Reilly, a managing member of Dynamic Earth Equipment, pitched his plan to city council members on Tuesday afternoon. O'Reilly said the development calls for up to 180,000 square feet of retail, office and multi-family properties, including a year round Farmers Market Pavilion. About 20% of the space would be dedicated to boutique retail, "things like coffee, ice cream, entertainment uses, things like that.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --  Snarled traffic on South Glenstone Avenue is nothing new to motorists. "Oh my gosh, sometimes it gets packed and people are crazy drivers," said Andy Romejko, who drives the area frequently. In fact, in a citizen survey conducted by the city, traffic flow and congestion are the top concerns.  Springfield's Public Works Department hopes two projects will help ease the problem.      One would widen Glenstone to six lanes from Battlefield Road to James River Freeway.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man is in custody after leading Greene County sheriff's deputies on a chase in a stolen car on Sunday. It started around 11 p.m. near Farm Road 164 (Inman Road) at Farm Road 135 (Golden Avenue) just east of the city. The driver reached speeds of 60 miles per hour through neighborhoods before coming to a stop near Riverside Street at Leawood Avenue near the James River Freeway.  He ran from the car but was caught moments later.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - One of south Springfield's busiest intersections will begin to feel a tight squeeze over the next few weeks as work continues on converting it to a diverging diamond interchange. Northbound drivers on Kansas Expressway at James River Freeway will see traffic restricted to one lane beginning tonight.  Two southbound lanes will remain open, transportation officials said; however, those lanes will shift to the northbound side of the bridge. Lanes will be reduced to 11 feet in width as well.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A chase that snaked across Springfield on Thursday afternoon ended when law enforcement officers arrested the driver at a hotel.  The sheriff says the chase reached speeds as high as 70mph. Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott says the chase began when his deputies tried to serve a felony arrest warrant in the 2500 block of North Ramsey Avenue.  Michael Riemer, 25, took off after the attempted traffic stop and led deputies throughout the city.  Arnott said Riemer is also wanted for questioning about a homicide in Greene County, which he wouldn't identify.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man was charged on Friday for a chase in south Springfield on Thursday night.   Alan Romero, 27, of Springfield is charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a law enforcement officer.  The second charge is a misdemeanor. About 11:18 p.m. Thursday, a Greene County sheriff's deputy saw a driver speeding westbound on James River Freeway (U.S. 60) near Campbell Avenue with only his flashers on.  The driver apparently exited at Highway FF and went south, where it was spotted on Republic Road at Hillcrest Avenue.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A series of collisions on a stretch of Interstate 44 through Springfield injured at least one person and tied up traffic on side roads for hours Tuesday evening. Two woman were hurt when a car was hit by a semi truck that was changing lanes near the Kansas Expressway overpass. Another crash involving three tractor-trailers was reported near the 71 mile marker around the same time frame. Police were also called to a crash near the Glenstone Avenue interchange.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield police searched early this morning for a man who led them on a chase after they say he tried breaking into businesses in south Springfield this morning. The man has not yet been found, but he has been described as wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. Police say they found locks broken on construction trailers in the 1300 block of East Kingsley, just south of James River Freeway. They say the man returned to the location and sped off when he saw an officer checking up on the suspected break-ins.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Information on criteria for building a wall to reduce highway noise that reaches homes next to James River Freeway (U.S. 60) between Kansas Expressway and Campbell Avenue will be covered in a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24.  The Missouri Department of Transportation meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at Remington's, 1655 W. Republic Road.   A short presentation will be given promptly at 5 p.m. when MoDOT engineers will present...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- If you drive around Springfield long enough, you'll likely encounter a train crossing your path.  And, your chances are becoming greater with train traffic on the rise.  It also means more of a risk at places where roads and rails meet. "You never, ever want to drive around lowered gates.  It's not only illegal, but it's dangerous," said Sgt. Jason Pace, a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol reports seven fatality car-train collisions in Missouri this year.  Most of those crashes have taken place at crossings that had flashing warning lights and bells.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Emergency crews are tending to several reported crashes this morning in the area of James River Freeway and U.S. 65 in southeast Springfield. First responders were called to an injury crash on U.S. 65 near Evans Road, just north of the Greene-Christian county line. There is no immediate word on how many vehicles have been involved, but traffic has been diverted from one direction onto the Evans Road exit. Several non-injury crashes were reported before sunrise, likely caused by slick conditions on the 60/65 flyover ramps.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A former monastery on the south side of the city will become offices for Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri.  The building is just south of the James River Freeway and Republic Road between Campbell and National avenues. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau acquired the building and 12-acre site previously known as the Carmel of St. Anne Monastery at 424 E. Monastery St.  Since 1965, the site was the home of the Discalced Carmelite Sisters, who have now relocated to other cities.