Cape repairing, modifying roundabout that drew drivers' complaints

~ The work began on Monday and should be complete in two weeks.

Cape Girardeau's controversial roundabout is receiving a facelift -- again.

Over the next two weeks the city's public works department will make minor adjustments to the roundabout at Gordonville and Silver Springs roads, said Tim Gramling, public works director. Crews will replace broken outer curbs and gutters and redesign part of the roundabout to make it easier for drivers to maneuver.

The island in the middle of the intersection will be shortened, allowing for a wider roadway. A small hump in the concrete near the north entrance from Gordonville Road will be smoothed out.

"Some of the work we're going to do will make it a little bit easier to get around," Gramling said. "The replaced curbs will make it easier to negotiate."

The construction began on Monday. The roundabout will remain open during the construction, but different entrances to the intersection will be closed while crews work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Because of threatening weather, crews did not work on the intersection Thursday and won't be working today, Gramling said.

The roundabout was roundly criticized when it opened in February 2001. Residents complained the road was too narrow and that the turning radius was too short.

The criticism led the city to delay opening a new stretch of Silver Springs Road extending from William Street north until the hilltop roundabout was improved. Improvements included removing and replacing curbs and expanding the width of the pavement by 2 feet -- from 16 feet to 18 feet.

The roundabout was originally built as one of the city's Transportation Trust Fund projects.