The intersection of Giant City Road and East Pleasant Hill Road in Jackson County was identified as a high-crash location, ranking second in priority by the Southern Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization (SIMPO) following a regional safety study. Between 2014 and 2019, the intersection saw 27 crashes, including three Type A injuries and five other injury-related crashes. The Jackson County Highway Department, in partnership with HMG Engineers, secured Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to address these safety concerns.

Planned improvements include adding a right-turn lane and installing new traffic signals. HMG assisted with the HSIP application, completed Phase I engineering, and prepared Phase II construction plans. Phase I services included an Intersection Design Study, wetland coordination, and an IDOT-approved Project Development Report. Phase II covered design of the signal and roadway improvements. Construction is scheduled for 2024.