Bloomfield Road to reopen to traffic today

A stretch of Bloomfield Road that has been closed nearly six months for a $1.25 million road-widening project -- one month longer than intended -- is scheduled to reopen to traffic today.

The news came as a relief to residents, who have had to deal with time-eating detours since the project began in June.

"It's been a big inconvenience," said Pat Gray who lives on nearby Cobblestone Court. "It's frustrating. We've spent a lot on fuel running back and forth. It has made what were short trips much longer."

The project called for removing existing surfacing, regrading and realignment of roadway from Stonebridge Drive to just south of the Benton Hill Road intersection. The intersection of Benton Hill Road and County Road 206 opened to traffic Wednesday. Late this afternoon, Bloomfield Road between that intersection and Stonebridge Drive will open, city engineer Casey Brunke said.

"Monday afternoon, everything should be open," Brunke said. "Most of the work has been completed."

Contractors have some work yet to do, she said, including finishing a retaining wall with stone veneer, fencing on the retaining wall and other miscellaneous parts of the project. Some of that work might require one-lane closures, she said, but the entire street shouldn't have to be closed for the work.

"They're not done, but we knew we had to get this open," she said.

The project was expected to be completed Nov. 16, but longer-than-expected utility work delayed the completion, she said. The utility work has been finished, she said.

One of the project's biggest boosters is Earl Norman, who lives off Bloomfield Road. He reiterated what he's said in the past -- that it has been an inconvenience but one that's worth it.

The new road is safer, wider and the sight line has been lowered near the intersection where a young man died in a traffic accident before the work began.

"It's much safer and, in my opinion, it's going to be more attractive than was before," he said.

He also likes the inclusion of an eight-foot-wide trail along Bloomfield Road for walking and biking.

"I can understand people being upset with the length of time," Norman said. "A lot of people don't understand how much was involved with the project. But I think the worst is over."

Bloomfield Road has already been widened from Christine Street to Spring Avenue and from Siemers Drive to Stonebridge Drive. Another section, from Benton Hill Road to White Oaks Lane, is scheduled for widening in 2013.

All of those projects have been or will be paid for out of Transportation Trust Fund money generated by a half-cent sales tax that Cape Girardeau voters have approved every five years since it initially passed in 1995.

Members of the Cape Girardeau City Council said they have heard from residents who wanted to know when the road would open again. Just last week, Mayor Harry Rediger and Kathy Swan said they received an email from a resident with questions.

Said Rediger: "I've told a couple of residents, once you drive on it, it's going to be worth the inconvenience and delay."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield Road and Stonebridge Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

Bloomfield Road and Benton Hill Road, Cape Girardeau, MO