Business Today
The city of Cape Girardeau plans to widen William Street from Sprigg to Main streets this year to improve traffic flow in and out of the downtown area, city officials recently said.
The city intends to widen the street, one of Cape Girardeau's oldest roads and main arteries, from 32 feet to 40 feet. The project steers clear of the south side of William and St. Mary's Cathedral, an east-side landmark.
City officials say the wider road would stay two lanes, at least for now. The project, estimated to cost about $500,000, includes improvements to the Main Street intersection and the east side of the Sprigg Street intersection as well as new sidewalks and storm sewer improvements. The project will be funded with transportation trust fund money.
"Basically, we are setting ourselves up for future traffic flow," said city engineer Mark Lester. But he said it would be difficult to widen the road to four lanes because buildings are too close to the pavement.
"I doubt it will ever be four lanes," he said.
By widening the road, the city can better match up the traffic lanes east of Sprigg with those on the west side of the intersection, Lester said.
Farther east on William, the city plans to extend Main Street's grassy median. That will make it easier for motorists turning north onto Main to get in the correct lane.
The wider road will better handle traffic while allowing for on-street parking on the north side of William, according to Lester.
The city currently is advertising for construction bids and could award a contract by early June, with construction beginning in late July or early August and completed by year's end.
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