Briefly

Road closure, lane reduction planned

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Old Toll Road in Jackson will be closed from Monday to Friday as work continues on phase two of the Route 34/72 widening project, weather permitting. Closure is expected at 7 a.m. Phase two of the project is from one mile west of the Route 25 intersection to 2.2 miles west of Route 25. Construction on phase two is expected to be completed this summer. Route F in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday for patch repairs, weather permitting. The repairs will be made from the beginning of state maintenance to Route Z junction. For more information, contact MoDOT's customer service center at (888) 275-6636.

Interstate 55 traffic may see delays Saturday

Traffic on Interstate 55 will be stopped periodically today for work on the new LaSalle Avenue/East Main Street interchange. The contractor will be blasting rock for excavation for the new interchange, weather permitting. Traffic near mile marker 102 in Cape Girardeau County will be stopped briefly about 3 p.m. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution in the area and be alert for slow and stopped traffic.

State historic group gives thumbs up to Cape

JOPLIN, Mo. -- At a meeting Friday in Joplin, the Missouri Historic Preservation Council approved the creation of a new historic district in Cape Girardeau encompassing 15 historic commercial buildings, mostly along Broadway, constructed between 1868 and 1955. Also part of Friday's decision was the addition of the three-story Sturdivant Bank Building at the northwest corner of Main and Themis streets to an existing district. Local historic preservationist and Old Town Cape board of directors president Terri Foley gave the presentations.

-- From staff reports