New lights going up in downtown Cape

Historic parts of Cape Girardeau will have a little more light shed on them beginning Monday.

At 8 a.m. today, crews from Cotner Electric Co. will begin installing nine 13-foot street lamps in areas leading from the new Southeast Missouri State University River Campus to downtown.

The $53,500 project was funded mainly through a $45,000 Missouri Department of Transportation enhancement grant. The remainder of the work is covered by corporate sponsors.

Tim Arbeiter, chamber of commerce vice president for community development, helped write the grant proposals during his time as director of Old Town Cape. He said the lighting is part of a larger plan to make the area appealing to pedestrians.

"With the River Campus coming online, the idea of continuing and connecting that whole area was something we looked at," he said.

"It will be aesthetically more pleasing and do a lot for the area's walkability. If you're at a theater production at the River Campus and are looking to do something after the play like go to dinner and have an evening downtown," lighting makes the walk feel safer, Arbeiter said.

The nine lights will be spaced at 175-foot intervals on Main Street from Merriwether Street to William Street and on William Street from Main Street to Spanish Street.

Ron Cotner of Cotner Electric said the lights will be illuminated Monday or possibly earlier depending on coordination with AmerenUE.

"It should dress it up pretty nice and light that area up a little bit," Cotner said.

Dr. Steven Hoffman, president of Old Town Cape, said that though the area chosen for the nine lights does not connect the River Campus to Main Street, Old Town Cape's long-term lighting plan aims to fill that gap.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245