A better Broadway

There's still work to be done on the street improvements along Broadway from Clark Avenue to Park Avenue in Cape Girardeau. But the biggest chunk -- from Perry Avenue to West End Boulevard along the south side of Capaha Park -- of a major project has been completed. The reopening of that portion of the street was welcomed this week by motorists, and when Southeast Missouri State University students return after spring break, they will find their familiar routes are available again.

City officials said closing Broadway while the four-laning project along the park was completed meant less disruption to traffic and a quicker process. Despite some cold weather in the weeks Broadway was closed, the project went fairly quickly.

Now turning lanes are being added at the Clark-Broadway intersection, a much-needed improvement particularly for southbound motorists on Clark Street who couldn't see oncoming westbound traffic on Broadway.

On the other end of the project, the Broadway work will connect with the new university entrance. Overall, the project will make going to and from the university a safer and more pleasant experience.

This is another of Cape Girardeau's Transportation Trust Fund projects. In recent years, a special sales tax has been earmarked for major street projects, and voters have consistently supported renewal of the tax after each of the five-year programs. The Broadway project is another success story for the trust fund.