JPD offers advice to citizens amid Joplin’s Range Line bridge closure

Joplin is experiencing a bridge closure that is resulting in major traffic disruptions. Most citizens have grown accustom to detour routes and back roads but despite this “new normal” some people are still struggling with it.

The Joplin Police Department took to Facebook to offer this advice:

“In an attempt to mitigate some of concerns that we have received over the past week with the Range Line bridge closure, we would like to offer some points to help drivers, property owners, and neighborhoods.

– Do not use a parking lot to navigate around a detour.

There are businesses that have been affected by traffic constantly cutting through their parking lots and causing a disruption. This creates unnecessary wear on their parking lots and is in violation of city ordinance.

– Do not make U-turns after a lane restriction. Eastbound traffic on 32nd is restricted to no left turn onto Davis. We have dealt with several cars making a U-turn after this intersection and going back to use Davis Blvd. This creates a safety issue and can cause traffic to get congested and need to slow suddenly which leads to rear-end-collisions.

– Driving between cones. Cones have been knocked over several times from people trying to drive between them. If cones are in place, they are a traffic control device. They are in place for your safety and the safety of workers. This is being strictly enforced.

– Trucks on detour routes not designated as truck routes.
We take into consideration that there is a learning curve with this situation. Commercial vehicles such as dump trucks and semi’s will need to detour on a truck route when not making local delivery.

– Taking the back way.
Everyone knows a shortcut. Please keep in mind that some of these roads are someone’s neighborhood. Traffic has seen a major increase in some of these areas, specifically 24th Street between Texas and Connecticut and 26th Street between Arizona and Connecticut. Speed has been a significant complaint and is being strictly enforced in these areas. These are both high pedestrian areas used by residents out exercising. PLEASE SLOW DOWN!

– Crowded roads.
We have received numerous careless driving complaints on roads with much more traffic than normal. Please slow down, put some extra room between you and the car in front of you and expect more stops along the way. Maybe leave an extra minute early.

Finally, the result will be well worth it. Please minimize distractions and BUCKLE UP!”