Bob Foos
There were some upset people Monday night when they didn’t get their free food. But Police Chief Don Melton says his department’s main concern was keeping the roadways safe.
The massive traffic jam, which we’re not accustomed to, started at 4 p.m., an hour before the new Simple Simon’s Pizza shop on East Street was about to celebrate its opening by giving everyone going through the drive-thru a large pepperoni pizza and calzone for free.
Everyone in line before the promotion cutoff at 6 p.m. was supposed to be able be satisfied, but the line was way too long.
Melton says the main problem was that traffic was backing up on Highway 171 to the railroad overpass. “It was dangerous because of the reduction in speed there” from 70 mph to 55 mph and then 25 mph around the roundabout.
So the roundabout’s northbound lanes were shut off. But people hungry for a good deal still got access from the south to Simple Simon’s by taking the two side roads from Main Street.
Needless to say, it was a bad situation for customers trying to get in and out of Atwoods, Sleep Inn and Flat Creek.
There were two officers directing traffic from the north at the intersection of East and Daugherty streets, where the traffic signal was changed to flashing.
Two others were at the entrance to Simple Simon’s parking lot and two more were at the roundabout.
“I’m proud of my officers for handling it fairly well,” says Melton. Even though they had to “yell” at motorists at times.”
Despite their efforts, it was a traffic nightmare for a couple of hours. People coming weren’t just local; they were coming from all over the region.
Melton says the location is difficult because East Street is only 23 feet wide, without wide shoulders. That means there was no way a middle lane could be formed to bypass vehicles backed up waiting to turn into Simple Simon’s.
It’s not like the police department was caught off guard. The electronic message board was used to warn motorists a couple of days ahead of time.
Originally, Melton says the plan was to restrict traffic at the Simple Simon’s lot to right-in, right-out, with no left turns from the north.
He had seen a video of the large customer response to a similar Simple Simon’s promotion in Grove, Okla. But that was a different “monster” because there were multiple lanes in Grove.
“We welcome Simple Simon’s to Webb City and hope they do well,” Melton says, while gearing up his department’s response to a customer-appreciation event that he hears Simple Simon’s is planning for Saturday.