CITY CLOSES SECTION OF STREET DUE TO WATER SEEPAGE NEAR WALL

Cape Girardeau officials closed Water Street between Themis and Main Sunday in an effort to limit traffic over seeping cracks in the road.

Kevin McMeel, assistant public works director, said water seeping through cracks and boils along the floodwall is normal as the river rises.

He said city crews are keeping an eye on the seepage and closed the street to keep traffic from increasing the seepage.

Despite the constant stream of water rushing through the cracks in Water Street near its intersection with Themis, city officials weren't alarmed.

"It's river water," McMeel said. "Whether that's from the storm sewer or where is uncertain. We know it's not the sanitary sewer. We just wanted to keep traffic off that area."

City crews also placed sandbags and guards over manhole covers in the downtown area.

McMeel said that without the sandbags, traffic could cause the manhole covers to "pop off" due to the increased water pressure in the storm sewers.

"Not much else is happening that isn't normal for a flood," he said of the work being done by city crews. "It's just this time the river has risen so much faster."