Cape, SEMO to work on projects throughout city

A sharing of cost and effort by the city of Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri State University will bring several small-scale improvement projects to areas on and near the school's main campus and River Campus.

At Monday's council meeting, members of the city council approved the first reading of an ordinance that prompts an agreement between the city and university.

Projects will include decorative lighting and traffic signals at the intersection of Broadway and Henderson Avenue; the addition of a public restroom facility on a corner of the Bertling Street and North Sprigg Street intersection; and the addition of a "gateway sign" for the city at the intersection of Highway 74 and Fountain Street.

Two other sections of the agreement extend arrangements for maintenance of asphalt and pavers on Normal and Pacific streets and Henderson Avenue, as well as grounds associated with the old bridge river outlook near the River Campus.

Assistant city manager Kelly Green said gateway monument is part of plans for a wayfinding signage program the city commissioned in 2011.

"One of the things that came about from the consultants were gateway features," she said. "These are entry points into our community that will have a nice feature."

A design has not yet been created for the gateway sign. Per the agreement, the university will allow the city to place the sign on its property near the River Campus.

The restroom facility will be for the use of the public and university students, Green said. The city will pay for the construction and the university will pay for construction materials and maintenance. Green said the design of the facility will be similar to the restroom at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway. The project is scheduled to be completed in April.

Improvements to the Broadway and Henderson Avenue intersection will cost about $218,000, which will be paid for by the university, except for $73,000 from the city's Transportation Trust IV fund, which comes from voter-approved municipal taxes. The project is scheduled to be completed before the end of July.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Broadway and Henderson Avenue, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Bertling Street and North Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Highway 74 and Fountain Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.