KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- When the new Route 63 opened in Kirksville this past October, for many residents it meant less traffic congestion on the Baltimore strip and more peace and quiet. But that peace and quiet would come with a bit of uncertainty for businesses, leading many to wonder if the alternate route has affected businesses on the now Business 63. It depends on whom you ask. 

Holly Lynch, the owner of two McDonald's restaurants in Kirksville and one in Macon, has seen the difference. Her Kirksville restaurants have felt a bit of an impact. "We've lost some of the travelers. Kirksville is certainly a great place to be, we really do well in Kirksville and we still get all the locals. But we have lost some of the travelers. We are about 10 percent less than the rest of the region is doing with sales," Lynch said.

But Dondi Bates, manager of the Super 8 Motel on the south end of Baltimore, said the motel hasn’t felt much of an impact since their visitors have a purpose to come into town. "We are doing well right now, " Bates said. "Of course, this is the time of year we are always slow anyway. But we have had a pretty good January and we are looking forward to be that way for February and on through the year."

With some rising concerns of how the sales tax is being impacted, Kirksville City Manager Mari Macomber and city officials are looking into it.

"One of the things I have asked my staff to do is to monitor the sales tax. We've just ended the fiscal year so we don't have the sales tax reports yet. But that is something we are going to be doing," Macomber said. "At this point, we really don't know the full impact yet."

Even though it’s still too early to tell if the new highway has had any impact on city sales, many businesses have agreed on one thing, that more signage is needed.

"Right now it would be relatively easy, especially coming south on 63, for somebody to just pass Kirksville before they even know they were there," Lynch said.

"Several people have told me that they have gotten lost because the signage doesn't direct them to town," Bates said.

So with businesses in Kirksville concerned about the lack of signs near the exits, KTVO went to the Missouri Department of Transportation to get some answers.

"Right now, we have placed some general service signs on the south interchange to tell people that there is food, gas, and lodging in Kirksville," said Brian Untiedt, MoDot Traffic Operations Engineer.

"There has been additional signage that the city has worked with MoDOT to put up so people traveling know this is the entryway to Kirksville, " Macomber said.

And more changes are on the way for the North end of the new highway. "We've referred Missouri Logos to the town to talk to the businesses about having some signs up on the north interchange where they can do some logos to tell people specific types of restaurants, hotels and gas stations that are there," Untiedt said.

MoDOT is also reviewing its Code of State Regulations to see what else can be done to direct travelers into Kirksville from the new highway.

Read previous stories:

Traffic changes  -  Monday, January 16, 2012
The Business 63 Ramp to Baltimore Street, at the south end of Kirksville, was closed Monday to install more guard rails.

MoDOT continues to make improvements on Highway 63  -  Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Alternate Route Highway 63 Traffic Safety Commission and MoDOT officials met to discuss the improvements MODOT has worked on the Highway 63 bypass.

Making Route P a little safer  -  Thursday, December 22, 2011
Crews lay down material to help widen Route P

More changes coming for Alternate Route 63 -  Thursday, December 15, 2011
More guardrails are on the way for the flyover on the south end of Kirksville's new alternate Route 63.

MoDOT: Flyover vs. Overpass  -  Monday, December 05, 2011
MoDOT explains the difference between a flyover and an overpass

Business 63 now open to traffic  -  Wednesday, November 09, 2011
North Baltimore Street and the North Interchange in Kirksville, otherwise known as Business 63 is now open to traffic.

Alternate Route 63 is now open  -  Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The new US 63 Highway is now open to motorists in Kirksville.