SPRIGG ST. EXTENSION READY TO PROCEED

Cape Girardeau City Engineer J. Kensey Russell couldn't be happier he was wrong.

Russell had estimated it would cost more than $861,000 to extend North Sprigg Street from Bertling to a soon-to-be-constructed Lexington, along the north edge of Melody Lane.

But the low bid of $511,164 is well below that. In fact, four of the six bids opened last week were under the engineer's estimate.

"We got real good bids," Russell said.

The City Council is expected to award a contract on July 11 to the low bidder, Dannie Gilder Excavating Inc. of Gordonville.

Motor fuel tax money and Public Facility Authority bonds will pay the bulk of the cost. Special assessments will fund about $183,000 of the project at $25 per front foot.

Russell said construction could begin around the first of August.

The project will extend North Sprigg Street less than a mile from the Bertling intersection where it currently dead-ends at a field.

The 44-foot-wide road will be asphalt with concrete curb and gutter. "It gives you enough room for three lanes," Russell said. The project also includes some storm drainage work.

A separate but related project involves construction of the last section of Lexington, which will extend about a mile from Old Sprigg Road to Highway 177.

Russell said the city hopes to begin advertising for construction bids on the Lexington project next week, with an Aug. 1 bid opening.

The council could be in a position to award a contract on the Lexington project by Aug. 7.

Construction on the Lexington route should begin about a month after work begins on the Sprigg Street extension, Russell said.

Construction work on both projects could be completed by next spring or early summer.

When completed, Sprigg and Lexington streets will provide a major route through the north end of the city.

"It will complete a link in our inner belt," Russell said.