Paving begins on Morgan Oak Street

New asphalt is being laid on Morgan Oak Street running east from Sprigg Street to the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus, a project that caused a temporary closure of part of Morgan Oak Street on Tuesday morning. The project should be finished by Thursday, said Geoff Dial, special projects coordinator with the Cape Girardeau Public Works Department.

The road had many potholes, said city engineer Kelly Green.

A notice to proceed on Morgan Oak Street was given June 30 to ASA Asphalt by the city of Cape Girardeau engineering department. The project was bid out to ASA for $240,000.

Dial said the completion of Morgan Oak Street construction will precede construction of the extension of Fountain Street to William Street so the decorative pavers that will be used on Fountain Street won't be dirtied by the oil from the asphalt on Morgan Oak Street, Green said.

The Fountain Street project will pave a new road extending south from Fountain Street to connect with William Street.

The city hasn't yet obtained all the rights of way to build through the two blocks to William Street from the 14 property owners.

Green said she is hopeful the Fountain Street project will be completed by midfall.

Bids haven't been sent out to the 14 land owners because the city is waiting to finish construction on Morgan Oak, Green said.

Green said construction of the Fountain Street extension was given to Jokerst Inc., which had the low bid of $117,000.

A damaged sewer line underneath the area of the Fountain Street extension has been relocated, Green said. The sewer line was moved underneath an alley, which is just west of the proposed Fountain Street, and underneath a section of Asher Street. The sewer line had to be moved before the Fountain Street construction because the elevation of the land under the road would have made the move difficult after the street's construction, Green said.

adohogne@semissourian.com

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