P&Z WANTS STREET PROJECTS BACK IN PLAN

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission wants the city council to find a way to fund two road projects that last year were moved off the city's five-year capital improvements plan.

At a meeting Wednesday, the commission reviewed the city's major streets plan last updated in 1990 which is a blueprint for long-range city road projects.

Although commissioners are unlikely to recommend substantial changes in the plan, they will reiterate the need for two projects:

Construction of a "new" Hopper Road from a point just east of Mt. Auburn Road extended west to the Hopper Road overpass at Interstate 55. The project includes construction of a new bridge over Cape LaCroix Creek near Mt. Auburn.

A project to improve Perryville Road, including plans to widen and straighten the route north of Cape Rock Drive.

The two road projects previously were included in the city's five-year capital improvements plan, but last year the city council placed them on an "unfunded needs" list due to budget constraints.

Commissioners said Wednesday the city needs to find a way to fund the projects, particularly as work on the Lexington Avenue project nears completion next year.

Commissioner Harry Rediger said Hopper Road is needed to improve access to new development on the city's far west side. He called Perryville Road "a disgrace."

"In December, we need to send a strong recommendation to get new Hopper and Perryville Road back on the capital improvements plan," he said.

City Planner Kent Bratton said the recent annexation petition from Twin Lakes subdivision, situated off Hopper Road west of I-55, might lend new importance to the road improvements.

"When we talked to the Twin Lakes folks about water and sewer service, that was the other issue they brought up," Bratton said. "They made it real plain they expect some improvements."

Commissioner Tom Mogelnicki said Hopper Road is the only east-west street that provides access across the interstate in the Twin Lakes area.

"Where else can we go?" he said. "It's the only one we've got, and it needs to be improved."

Charles Haubold, commission chairman, said one of the reasons projects like Hopper and Perryville Road have been moved off the capital improvements plan is the attention devoted to the Lexington project.

"With that almost behind us, you have to assume that maybe we can start directing our efforts at Hopper Road," he said.

Other street projects discussed by the commission included Bloomfield Road and improved access to the downtown area on Cape Girardeau's east side.

Bratton said the city might consider improving Bloomfield from Kingshighway to I-55 with new overlay and an additional 18 inches of pavement, curb and gutters on each side.

The project was one of the top four priorities for reconstruction projects in the commission's major street recommendations two years ago. Other reconstruction projects included: Broadway from Clark to Perry; New Madrid from Henderson to Perry; West End from William to Old Route 74 and from Capaha Park north to Bertling; and North Main.

Mogelnicki said he also would like improved access to the downtown area. He suggested the city consider widening William Street east of Sprigg to downtown.

"I've always thought that would be a good project to help downtown," Mogelnicki said. "Downtown is the historical part of our community, and they've been struggling due to traffic problems for years.

"Unfortunately, anything we do is probably going to be very expensive."

Other new construction projects included in the commission's 1990 major streets plan recommendations are:

Completion of Lexington to Highway 177.

Extension of Sprigg Street north to Lexington and, eventually 177, and extension of West End Boulevard to Lexington.

Construction of a new bridge route (Highway 74) through the city's south side.

Bridge route connections with Mt. Auburn, Lorimier Street, Silver Springs Road, and Siemers Drive.