Fountain Street

Work has started on the 1,300-foot extension of Fountain Street from Morgan Oak to William streets. The brick street with a landscaped median will continue Fountain from Highway 74, which provides access to downtown from both Interstate 55 and Illinois. A ground-breaking ceremony was held May 19.

Included will be a roundabout at Fountain and Morgan Oak Street and decorative street lights. City officials say the street, which will replace an old railroad bed, will offer opportunities for commercial development as well as providing an attractive gateway to the historic downtown area.

Of the $1.2 million project, $300,000 will come from the city's transportation trust fund for street improvements. The remainder will be funded by grants from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Missouri Department of Transportation and the federal government.

Key to this project has been the access to grants made possible by the city's designation as a DREAM city. Much of the work to get funding has been led by Tim Arbeiter of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, who was director of Old Town Cape when the effort began in 2004.

This project has required a great deal of cooperation and coordination, and everyone involved will soon see the fruits of their labors.