NEW ROUTE J NEAR P&G OPEN TO TRAFFIC

New Route J is open for traffic.

"We still have a few things to do -- shoulder work and seeding," said Randy Hitt, area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation. "But traffic is moving."

A section of Route J had to be relocated at the Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co. plant north of Cape Girardeau to make way for a $350 million plant expansion.

The road closed July 29, forcing residents in the area to seek new routes.

"We expected the new road to be ready by Sept. 1," said Hitt. "It reopened Sept. 5."

The relocation called for moving the 1.1-mile section of the road.

A new bridge included in the $2.5 million project has been placed on hold until summer 1998. A temporary bridge is in place.

"We'll come back next summer and install the permanent bridge," said Hitt.

P&G announced in mid-April that it would build a $350 million addition to its Cape Girardeau County plant to enable an increase in production of tissues and towels. The expansion, which will result in 20 acres (850,000 square feet) under roof, will create 350 jobs.

Target date for the new P&G operation is early 2000.

The first of two buildings will be placed where two employee parking lots are situated on either side of Route J.

The new road was built on land owned by P&G. The land was donated for the project.