Residents worry Cape intersection poses danger

The hilltop intersection of Missouri Avenue and Stoddard Street in Cape Girardeau worries neighborhood residents who say speeding motorists, line-of-sight problems and children at play could lead to a deadly accident.

Christa Rhodes, who lives at 1407 Stoddard St. near the street's dead end just east of the intersection, wants Cape Girardeau city officials to take steps to protect the neighborhood from a traffic tragedy.

Rhodes said she would like the city to install signs to warn approaching motorists that children may be crossing the street.

City officials have promised to study the issue and respond by June 10.

"It's not safe anymore," Rhodes said as she stood at the intersection, only a few feet from where Missouri Avenue drops steeply to the north. "There have almost been three accidents just in the last month."

John Lawrence Sr., who lives at 1224 Missouri Ave., said some motorists race past his house at 50 mph. The speed limit is 30 mph.

He said he doesn't let his 5-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter play on the street. "I let them play on the dead end," he said of the short section of Stoddard Street where Rhodes lives.

The city needs to address the safety issue, he said.

His son, John Jr., rode his bicycle on the dead-end section of Stoddard Street around midday Friday. To get there, he had to pedal a short distance on Missouri Avenue.

The boy checked for traffic before venturing on Missouri Avenue. "It's pretty dangerous," he said. "I stay on the side of the road."

John Lawrence Jr. said his father has repeatedly warned him about the traffic danger.

Rhodes initially asked the city engineering staff to look at installing "children at play" signs near the intersection.

But city officials are reluctant to do so, saying it sends the wrong message.

"Ironically, there have been court cases in other cities that say if you put up a 'children at play' sign, you are allowing children to play in the street," said Heather Brooks, assistant to the city manager. "Our point is to keep children off the street."

The city engineering staff plans to do a traffic study to determine how fast motorists are driving through the neighborhood and the amount of traffic.

Tom Wiesner, engineering technician with the city, said the line-of-sight issue also will be studied. "There is a significant hillcrest there," he said.

Brooks said signs warning motorists to slow down or be aware of children crossing the street might be considered. Other possibilities include installation of a speed bump or perhaps lowering the speed limit, she said.

But Brooks said city officials are careful about installing signs along city streets.

"We can't just indiscriminately put up signs or motorists will stop taking them seriously," she said. "We have to make sure there is a situation to warrant it."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123