CITY PLANS TO KEEP PART OF OLD BRIDGE

Cape Girardeau officials hope to preserve a section of the old Mississippi River bridge as a scenic overlook.

Mayor Al Spradling III said Tuesday night city officials will discuss the idea with the Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Transportation.

"We hope to be able to do it," Spradling said during a public meeting at the Osage Community Centre.

About 40 people attended the meeting, which focused on plans for the River Campus. The crowd included a number of Southeast Missouri State University and city officials.

The university wants to spend $35.6 million to turn a former Catholic seminary into a school for the visual and performing arts. The city is contributing tax money to help fund a share of the cost.

The river bridge sits adjacent to the old St. Vincent's Seminary property. A new four-lane bridge is under construction to the south of the seminary grounds. The old bridge is to be torn down once the new span is completed.

One man in the audience questioned if the River Campus site has sufficient parking. The current design envisions about 300 parking spaces.

Spradling said the city probably would buy additional land near the River Campus for construction of a Lorimier Street exit to the downtown from the new Mississippi River bridge route.

Some of the land could be used for additional parking, the mayor said.

Eric Gooden, who owns the Cape Bicycle store, suggested the city consider turning an abandoned railroad corridor in the downtown area into a biking trail. Gooden said the trail could run through the River Campus and connect with the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. The new bridge, he said, would include a pedestrian and biking path.

Gooden said such a trail would allow students to bicycle to the River Campus.

The current building design calls for renovating the main seminary building and constructing modern additions, including a 1,000-seat performance hall.

Brad Simmons, vice president of Sverdrup, the St. Louis architectural firm that designed the project, said the plan takes into account the business side of the arts.

Simmons said the theater needs to have 1,000 seats to be economical and attract major productions such as Broadway plays.

Simmons said the River Campus would be built with acoustics in mind.

Spradling said the design needs to try to minimize the towboat vibrations that can be felt downtown.

Simmons said the community would benefit from the River Campus. "This would end up being the living room for the entire community where everybody will come together," he said.