Businesses happy with widening of drainage ditch

Construction has begun on a stormwater improvement project along South Kingshighway that will help some businesses keep dry during heavy rains.

The city of Cape Girardeau has contracted Nip Kelley Construction to widen a drainage ditch in the area of Kingshighway and Commercial Street. Instead of just one box culvert, the project will have two side by side.

Two- and 3-inch rains flooded businesses and part of South Kingshighway in the past, but the improvements should solve those problems, said Steve Cook, environmental service coordinator with the city.

Terry Young, the owner of Cape Janitor Supply who has been after the city to improve the situation since he bought the property two years ago, said the ditch widening went beyond his expectations.

"On a scale of one to 10, it's a 20," he said. "What they're doing now blows my mind. I didn't think it would be this good."

Young said floodwaters entered his store in July. He said he is always prepared for flash floods; most of his stock is on pallets so it can be moved quickly.

Young's business neighbor, Dillard Dale, said water came up to the doorstep of Auto Trim Design this spring.

He said he's been waiting for this project for six years.

"It's definitely been a problem," he said. "The ditch was just too small and couldn't handle the water that was being channeled through there."

Dale said his business could save $5,000 per year on flood insurance once all the stormwater projects are finished.

The project is the first of two phases. Phase 2 will include improvements from Commercial Street to Cape La Croix Creek.

Part of the construction of Phase 1 includes an increasingly popular concrete-pouring technique that leaves a rough surface in order to discourage activities such as skateboarding.

Fifty percent of the $173,570 project, which includes Phase 2 also, was paid for through a state stormwater grant. The project took a long time to come to fruition, Cook said, because several state and federal government entities were involved.

Other construction

Traffic will be delayed near the Interstate 55 overpass at Scott City while the Missouri Department of Transportation bridge crews paint the structure.

The bridge is at the Route K junction.

MoDOT will also be doing repairs on two other bridges, both in Cape Girardeau County approximately two miles south of the Perry County line.

The work on all the bridges will continue from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127