Commission reviews latest proposal for Water Street

A plan to turn Water Street into a one-way southbound road along the Cape Girardeau riverfront needs more study, planning and zoning commissioners said Wednesday night.

"The last thing you want to do is make it too confusing," said commission chairman Skip Smallwood.

"You impact one street, it may ultimately impact another street," he said after Mayor Jay Knudtson told the commission he and many downtown merchants favored making Water Street one-way southbound from Broadway to Independence Street.

The proposed project would include angled parking and a wider, decorative sidewalk as well as a reading rail with information about the various painted panels of the mural that adorns the downtown floodwall that runs parallel to Water Street.

Under the plan, Water Street would be closed off north of Broadway. A landscaped area would be developed in that area with walk paths and two parking spaces for the handicapped, city officials said.

It also would include reconfiguring the Main Street parking lot to provide mid-block access in an effort to improve use of the south half of the lot.

Changing directions

The plan would leave the downtown with two one-way southbound streets and force motorists to use Spanish Street to travel north.

"I know this will put a lot of pressure on Spanish Street," said commissioner Harry Rediger who suggested that some traffic changes may be needed on Main Street if Water Street is changed from two-way traffic to one way.

Some downtown merchants have suggested changing southbound Main Street to two ways. Old Town Cape, a downtown revitalization organization, also has backed the idea.

But Knudtson said other downtown merchants oppose the idea. "There is significant disagreement about what needs to happen on Main Street," he said.

If the Fountain Street extension is built from Morgan Oak Street to William Street, it would funnel traffic from the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge to the south end of the downtown, Knudtson said. That could result in a need to change Main Street to two-way traffic, he said.

"There needs to be a little congestion downtown before there is a need to do that," the mayor said.

But he predicted Main Street will be made a two-way street eventually. "Right now," he said, "it is very difficult to sell."

Commissioner Raymond Buhs said making Main Street two ways would make it more difficult for delivery trucks to supply downtown businesses. "You will have a lot of people with delayed deliveries," he said.

Commissioner R.J. McKinney questioned why Water Street couldn't be turned into a one-way northbound street.

Knudtson said that would create a problem on the block of Broadway between Water Street and Main Street by forcing the closure of that area to eastbound motorists wanting to get to the riverfront.

Rediger agreed. "You're virtually blocking people off to get to one of our major attractions," he said, referring to the Mississippi River.

Knudtson said the immediate need is to make the Water Street improvements to complement the floodwall mural.

The street work will be funded by downtown merchants. The city might pay for some of the parking lot improvements, but that hasn't been decided, he said.

The city, he said, doesn't have the money to extend Water Street or make other major improvements in the neighborhood.

Tim Blattner, who heads up the mural association, urged the commission to act soon so the Water Street plan can be submitted to the city council for approval and construction can commence.

Blattner said he hopes the work can be done soon so the improvements will be in place for the summer tourist season.

Commissioners said the street plan needs to be carefully reviewed.

"Whatever we do," Smallwood said, "downtown merchants have to live and die with it."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123