Proposed Cape Girardeau road projects could cost $21 million if tax is extended, city council told

A city committee is moving closer to having a final list of road projects ready for voters in 2010, the Cape Girardeau City Council was told Monday evening.

Harry Rediger, a member of the city Planning & Zoning Commission and chairman of the Total Transportation Fund subcommittee, said during the council work session that the plan anticipates having $21.6 million to spend over five years if voters extend the current half-cent sales tax for road work.

If approved, it would be the third extension of the tax. A final list should be ready for the Planning & Zoning Commission in December, Rediger said. The list would then be presented to the council with hopes of putting it before voters in August 2010.

Big projects on the list include $3.1 million to widen Bloomfield Road from Benton Hill Road to White Oak Lane, another $3.1 million to widen West End Boulevard from Southern Expressway to Bloomfield Street, a project that includes extending Walnut Street from Beaudean Lane to West End Boulevard. Other items that made the list, Rediger said, include a plan to extend Veterans Memorial Drive from Scenic Drive to Hopper Road and a $2.8 million plan to rework Broadway from Water Street to Pacific Street.

The Broadway plan, Rediger said, includes better storm drainage and streetscape improvements as well as an asphalt overlay. "It will be a catalyst of better things to come on Broadway," he said.

As the council listened to Rediger, one issue raised was which projects were more justified. Ward 5 Councilman Mark Lanziotti questioned the wisdom of the West End Boulevard project, which made the list ahead of the Lewis & Clark Parkway plan for a road north from Kings-highway at Center Junction or work to improve portions of Sprigg Street.

Another project Lanziotti said he preferred over the West End Boulevard work would be to finish Bloomfield Road all the way to Highway 74 southwest of Cape Girardeau.

All those projects received extensive discussion, Rediger said, but traffic counts show the southern section of West End Boulevard needs work. From Southern Expressway to Bloomfield Street, the road carries 5,700 cars a day, nearly double the traffic on Bloomfield Road in the stretch that passes Dalhousie Country Club.

And the Lewis & Clark Parkway is on the list as an alternative project, one that may get more attention if any plan to develop Center Junction moves ahead, Rediger said.

In other action, the council approved a $1.02 million contract with Nip Kelley Equipment Co. to extend Fountain Street from Morgan Oak Street to William Street and a $1.9 agreement with R.L. Persons Construction Co. to build a water transmission line. The council also approved, without dissent, a special use permit for Mark Rademaker to convert about half of his Five Pines Mobile Home Park at 3020 Boutin Drive for use by recreational vehicles.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3020 Boutin Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.