River Walk expansion takes steps closer to completion

The Mississippi River long has been a major attraction for tourists who visit Cape Girardeau. This was the major reason behind the expansion of the River Walk, which is nearing completion on the Mississippi, city planner Kent Bratton says.

This week, riprap has been added to protect the banks and the newly completed walkways from erosion. This was a major step in the completion of the project, said Abdul Alkadry, the city's project manager.

Alkadry said the "substantial completion" inspection has been scheduled for Thursday. Then the new walkways should be officially open for public use.

During the River Walk improvement, the walkway has been extended on both sides of the existing Riverfront Park, which was constructed in the mid-1980s. The first phase runs 750 feet north from the Broadway floodgate while the second phase runs 923 feet south from the Themis Street floodgate.

The substantial completion inspection allows engineers to determine what still needs to be done. Decorative lights still need to be installed, Alkadry said. That will happen as soon as the lights arrive, probably sometime in July.

The River Walk improvement is a federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century grant project. The city of Cape Girardeau will pay only 20 percent of the cost for the additions. According to Alkadry, the first phase cost $403,000, and so far phase two has cost $309,000.

The south expansion will feature steps to approach the river, while the north expansion will feature large platforms near the floodwall to view the river.

Bratton said this was done to counterbalance the existing ramp near the Broadway floodgate and viewing platform by Themis Street.

"We noticed that people always used the same entrance to the River Walk," Bratton said. "So in this expansion, we tried to switch that."

Bratton said the improvements also should provide easier access to riverboats.

"Most of the tie-ins for docking were in bad need of repair," he said. "We have replaced these areas, and I am sure that docking boats will be much appreciative."

The fuel dock on the north side of the River Walk, the only dock for boats to refuel between St. Louis and Memphis, also has been improved. The River Walk extends to the fuel dock, meaning people disembarking from their boats no longer will have to climb over weed-covered riprap to visit downtown.

jwachter@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127