DELAYS KEEP BROADWAY BUMPY

Broadway construction should be completed as soon as Cape Girardeau gets a few dry days with temperatures above 40 degrees.

But as it stands, the major downtown thoroughfare is riddled with protruding manhole covers, gravel, low spots and thick sheets of metal that cover unfilled holes.

Work on widening Broadway to four lanes between Perry and Clark avenues began last spring, and city officials say the current obstacles should disappear once the weather improves and workers apply a two-inch asphalt overlay.

Louie Mousadakos, manager of Dave's Barbecue at 1865 Broadway, said he is hoping for a speedy end to the construction, which he believes has affected his strictly drive-through restaurant business.

"They really messed me up pretty good right before Christmas time hit," he said. "They had me blocked off on both sides of the drive-through. It's picked up since they took out the detours, but it's not back to what it was."

Mousadakos said workers also had to dig up his driveway. But, he said, he is certain the hassle will be worth it in the end.

"I just want it over soon," he said. "As long as people have access to my business, I'll be OK with it. I understand they have to do it to get the four lanes open."

Remaining work includes applying the asphalt overlay, installing traffic signals at Clark Avenue and Broadway, and lane striping, said city engineer Mark Lester.

"It'll probably be a good month yet," Lester said. "Once the weather warms up, it should take only three weeks to a month. By warming up, I mean 40 degrees and rising, and dry."

He said the addition of traffic signals at Clark and Broadway should help ease traffic to and from Cape Girardeau Central and junior high schools.

"It's a really hard intersection to get out of, especially during school," Lester said. "The signals are needed."

Mary Masters has lived in her home in the 2000 block of Broadway since 1932. She said she thinks the road crews are doing a good job and are working as fast as possible.

"I think they're doing the best they can," she said. "Of course, there was bad weather, and they couldn't work. I feel sorry for them. I know they're trying hard, and they worked hard all summer. It was a mighty big project."