Mount Auburn widening project to get underway in July

Cape Girardeau has contracted with Lappe Cement Finishing to widen Mount Auburn Road from William Street to Bloomfield Road.

Two lanes of the road will stay open throughout the construction period which is set to begin in early July. Engineering officials hope to have the project completed by Thanksgiving.

When finished, the street will be widened from 44 feet to 59 feet and from two to four lanes with an additional middle turn lane. The project will also include the installation two traffic signals on Mount Auburn and two traffic signals on Siemers Drive, construction of block retaining walls, installation of a 12-inch water line and sidewalk construction.

The total cost of the project, which was approved by voters during the Transportation Trust Fund 2 referendum in 2000, will be $1,307,206.

According to city engineer Abdul Alkadry, the designated area receives heavy traffic: 9,300 cars per day at its north end and 7,700 cars at its southern end.

"We hope the new traffic lights and extra lanes and resurfacing will be a way to keep traffic moving in the area. It will be a significant improvement," said Alkadry.

The new traffic signals will be located at the intersection of Bloomfield and Mount Auburn roads, Mount Auburn Road and Doctors Park, Siemers Drive and Bloomfield Road, and Siemers and Lambert drives.