Changes are coming to Cape's riverfront area

Several projects are in the works for the riverfront in downtown Cape Girardeau, though it may take some time before construction begins.

River walk trail extensions, floodwall improvements and replacement of a floodwall drain are a few of the key projects planned for the near future.

River walk

Making additions to the river walk has been a goal of the city's for several years. A federal grant administered by the Federal Highway Administration is covering the project's costs.

In October, the Cape Girardeau City Council voted to award the construction contract to Nip Kelley Equipment Co., which submitted the lowest bid of $802,516.10. The project includes extensions to the north and south.

The North Project extends the existing trail about 300 feet north to the Department of Conservation's Red Star Access boat ramp. As part of the extension, a 10-foot-wide pedestrian bridge will be built to provide a crossing over Sloan's Creek. Besides connecting people to the popular fishing and boat ramp, city engineer Casey Brunke said a pedestrian bridge also would create a new access point to the river walk other than the cluster of openings at the flood gates along Water Street.

"Basically, either way you walk, you have to turn around and walk back to where you came from," she said of the existing river walk path.

Besides opening a new destination along the trail, the extension also creates another access point to downtown.

"Maybe people have got their boat out or they're fishing and then they come back in, and maybe they want to eat dinner downtown before they go home," Brunke said. "They can just head down that river walk if they want to."

The contractor has the city's green light to begin working on the bridge project, although recent wet weather has impeded work in the area.

On the other end of the river walk, the South Project calls for a much longer extension. It would add about 1,600 feet of trail along the city's floodwall on the riverside, ending behind the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus.

There was discussion and consideration of a plan to create a structure that would allow pedestrians to cross the railroad tracks and access the River Campus, but the cost was too high. The city hasn't given up on the project that Brunke said could become another destination item for Cape Girardeau, with options to create a river overlook or other amenities.

Floodwall

While construction of the river walk extension will begin this year, it could take longer before work on floodwall projects begin. Stan Polivick, city traffic engineer and floodwall coordinator, said if those spending time near the riverfront this year notice any work happening along the wall, it's likely only routine maintenance or inspection. The Broadway and Themis Street flood gates will be painted, for example, based on a recommendation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during its annual inspection last year.

There are two larger projects in the works, but they likely won't move out of the planning stages until next year. Polivick said confirmation of federal funding for the Corps secured earlier this year has allowed it to continue working with the city on rehabilitation work along the wall.

One project involves repair of a toe drain, a pipe used to control seepage. The drain is on a northern part of the wall between the Broadway floodgate and Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. Preparation for this project will take time because it requires cooperation from the city, the Corps and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Co.

"We literally have to work with the railroad to have the railroad tracks moved over six or seven feet to make room for the Corps contractor to do the work on the toe drain pipe," Polivick said. " ... As part of these federal agreements, the local owner -- in this case, the city -- has a responsibility to provide any needed land or area for the work and moving the railroad is part of that responsibility."

The toe drain replacement and railroad track relocation are included in the city's most recent Capital Improvements Program. The $1.5 million project is scheduled to be built in 2016.

The second project is replacing an outfall box from the Merriwether pumping station, farther south along the wall. Polivick said there have been no problems with the drain to date, but the Corps recommended replacement as a preventive measure.

"Of course, all this was built back in the late '50s, so they [the Corps] are concerned that the foundation that box culvert is sitting on may not be as stable as they want it," he said. "They've noticed some movement over the years and some settlement, so they want to address that before it becomes problematic."

These projects, along with continued maintenance, will help bump the city up to the Corps' top rating for infrastructure conditions. The city has for many years been in the "minimally acceptable category," which is where many levee systems fall, Polivick said. The scheduled improvements could be enough to raise the city's rating to "acceptable."

The certificate of appreciation the Corps presented to the city last month for its flood protection efforts -- and the $12 million the Corps has invested over time in the city's floodwall and levee system -- is proof the groups have worked well together, Polivick said.

"That's quite a prestigious award they gave us," he said. "That's evidence of our efforts. We are working to get to the point where we can get that acceptable rating in a couple of years, maybe three years."

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Water Street and Broadway Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.