CITY MAKES PROGRESS ON ROADS TO SUCCESS PLAN

Cape Girardeau plans to tout its transportation tax projects with road signs similar to those the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department has used for its road work.

The city's Public Awareness Advisory Board approved the sign design at a meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

Members of the board are councilmen Melvin Gateley, Melvin Kasten and J.J. Williamson; City Manager Michael Miller and Sherri Finley, coordinator of the public awareness office.

The "Roads to Success" logo shows a road curving through a line of green trees and hills. It also gives thanks to the public, which approved the tax that will fund the work.

There will be two, 3-by-4 signs erected for each project.

The city's name and that of the contractor will be placed at the bottom of each sign, Finley said.

Gateley said the signs will show the public that the transportation tax projects are being done as promised.

The advisory board received a progress report on the various Transportation Trust fund projects.

The City Council will receive monthly updates, and an annual progress report on the road projects will be included with the August utility bills that will be mailed to residents.

Gateley said the council had directed the city staff to proceed with plans for the road projects so construction could begin as soon as possible.

A number of projects should be under construction next year. They will be funded with money from the transportation sales tax approved by voters in August.

"We are going to have a lot of activity. That is wonderful," said Gateley, who chaired the advisory board this year and campaigned for passage of the transportation tax.

Board members on Tuesday elected Williamson as their new chairman. Gateley will serve as vice chairman.

Status of Transportation Trust Fund projects

* The paving of gravel streets: Brucher is designed and will be bid after the first of the year. Engineering has been completed for paving of Magnolia, Jasmine and Dixie, but the council must decide whether to pave with concrete or asphalt. Rand Street is the next gravel street slated for design.

* Pavement overlays, and sidewalks and curb and gutter repairs: Some of the work will be performed by city crews, the rest will be handled by private contractors.

* Perryville Road reconstruction from Meyer Drive to city limits: Construction plans should be ready by the end of August.

* Hopper Road realignment from Mount Auburn Road west to Kage Road: Construction plans should be ready by May 1996.

* Hopper Road, Kage to Interstate 55: Design work will be done at the same time as the above project, but the construction schedule hasn't been set yet.

* Silver Springs Road extension from William to Independence: Right-of-way drawings are complete. City staff will complete construction plans.

* Bloomfield Road improvements, Christine to Spring: City expects to do engineering work.

* Broadway widening and reconstruction: An engineering contract should be negotiated by mid-January.

* Mount Auburn Road widening from William to Independence, and traffic signals at Mount Auburn and Independence: City expects to do the engineering work.

* Lorimier Street connection to new Highway 74 is tied to construction timetable for a new Mississippi River bridge.

* Mount Auburn Road connection to new Highway 74 from Bloomfield south: Design is 90 percent complete and construction likely will occur in 1997.

* Siemers Drive connection to new Highway 74 from Bloomfield south: Construction will be coordinated with completion of the Highway 74 and I-55 interchange. Construction of the interchange is scheduled to commence in early 1997.

* Silver Springs Road connection to the new highway from Bloomfield south: Plans and construction slated during 1997 to tie in with the state highway project.

* Bloomfield Road, Kingshighway west to I-55: An engineering contract should be negotiated by mid-January.

* New Madrid Street improvements from Show Me Center west to Perry: The Henderson Street intersection portion of the project will be done in 1996 through an agreement with Southeast Missouri State University. Balance of the work hasn't been scheduled yet.

* No action has been taken yet on six other transportation-tax projects.