07/31/2026
By now, I'm sure most folks have heard about the new Highway 54 project between Brazito and Eugene.
This is the perspective of a business that will be directly and negatively affected by this project.
As locals from the area, we stand with many others on this issue. As a farming community, this project eliminates the last three crossover routes our local farmers have to cross the highway safely. Using J-turns to move farm equipment from place to place is simply an unsafe and unfair option for the men and women who are the backbone of our community.
How This Affects Ice Cream for Ice Cream:
While we appreciate and cherish every single person who supports us, the fact is that travelers account for over half of our business. A large majority of those customers are people traveling to and from the Lake of the Ozarks. Most of that business comes from folks returning home from the lake. Through conversations with customers and our own observations, we've found that most people pass our shop on their way to the lake and stop in on their way home. Everyone is always anxious to get to the lake, and who can blame them?
MoDOT now plans to eliminate the crossover from United Road into our parking lot, replacing it with a J-turn more than a mile ahead.
That means anyone traveling eastbound who wants to stop for ice cream will have to drive more than a mile past our business, almost to Fall Hill Road, then turn around and come all the way back. When people are traveling, the last thing they want to do is backtrack. I have to assume that most simply won't.
The main reason Ice Cream for Ice Cream has been able to stay in business is because it's a convenient stop right off the highway. It's easy to get in and easy to get out. This project changes all of that and eliminates that convenience.
Why This Is Important
If this project moves forward as currently proposed, there is a very real chance our business will close.
That would mean:
• The loss of thousands of tax dollars that support our local community.
• The loss of 12 jobs for local teens. For many of these kids, this is their first job and their first opportunity to learn customer service and responsibility, all while working close to home.
• The loss of a great local, convenient place to stop and grab a snack.
• The loss of a place where families can gather after a ride on their side-by-side.
• And the list goes on.
In Conclusion
We will always support making our highways and roads safer, but they need to be safer for everyone, and not have a negative impact on ANYONE!
Added exit lanes and acceleration lanes at certain intersections are long overdue, and we are excited to see those improvements finally being addressed.
However, eliminating crossovers and replacing them with J-turns is simply not the answer.
We ask everyone to attend any MoDOT meetings regarding this project and to leave a comment on the project's public feedback page.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!
https://www.modot.org/projects/us-route-54-intersection-improvements-cole-county?fbclid=IwdGRjcATZ4V1jbGNrBNnd3mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnPaPgRTct-RbyPHM6CWCQYFXQPH2ow5Ok6-Lg4pnhljdF-_dJnDUuA1TtF1_aem_6NhTRCzFzBTgT6-uW-9S5A
Districts Impacted Central Counties Impacted Cole Route Impacted 54 Work Type Intersection Improvements Additional Work Types Highway Realignment Planning Phase Project overview The four-mile section of U.S. Route 54 between United Road and Gray Road, south of Brazito, has a history of serious and f...