OK from EPA may delay bridge exit

Federal environmental regulations could delay until August the start of construction on a Fountain Street extension designed to provide a gateway to Cape Girardeau's downtown and a planned arts school.

The regulatory delay in securing federal Environmental Protection Agency and Missouri Department of Natural Resources approval could make it tougher for any contractor to complete work by the scheduled opening of the new Mississippi River bridge in mid-November, Cape Girardeau city officials said Tuesday.

Fountain Street would be the first exit on the Missouri side of the new bridge, just 500 feet from the end of the span.

The route would provide the main entrance to Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus arts school and to Cape Girardeau's downtown.

City manager Michael Miller blamed the regulatory delay on the fact the city staff must hold a public hearing to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency and Missouri Department of Natural Resources requirements governing the use of federal grant money for the project.

The hearing is scheduled for June 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the city council chambers. Plans for the proposed street and related storm drainage improvements will be discussed at the hearing, officials said.

City officials had hoped the estimated $1.13 million project could proceed without the usual regulatory proceedings because federal money, secured through lobbying efforts by Southeast Missouri State University, had been earmarked for the Fountain Street project.

But since that won't happen, it could be July before the project receives the necessary state and federal approval to advertise for bids and August before a contract is awarded, said city planner Kent Bratton. The original timeline called for construction to begin in July.

The university plans to award the contract rather than the city because the project ties in with the school's planned River Campus and is being designed in conjunction with the overall project, city officials said.

Miller said the contract might have to include bonus payments as an incentive to get the bridge-connecting route completed on time. City officials don't know how much that will cost.

At the very least, Miller said he hopes the contractor can have two of the four lanes open by the time the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge opens to traffic.

Councilwoman Marcia Ritter said she hopes the street will be ready on time. Fountain Street is important to bring visitors to downtown Cape Girardeau, she said. "If it isn't there, people may well go to the west side of town," said Ritter.

Marsha Toll, president of the board of directors of Old Town Cape, said it won't be a disaster if the timing doesn't work out. "I think when you have two major construction projects like this it is pretty hard to coordinate them to get done at the same time," said Toll, whose group is working to revitalize the city's historic downtown area.

The proposed street would extend from Highway 74, the bridge route, to Morgan Oak Street on the west side of the River Campus. Southeast is developing the River Campus on the grounds of a former Catholic seminary overlooking the Mississippi River.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123