SPRIGG STREET WORK FINISHED UNTIL SPRING

All that is left to do on the North Sprigg Street extension is to put down the actual road.

However, it will be a while before conditions make that possible.

"It's hard to say when we will be able to get started," said Mark Lester, a civil engineer with the city of Cape Girardeau. "That road is slated to be asphalt, which means there are a lot of factors involved. Number one is the weather, since it must be more than 40 degrees out before it can be poured. It will probably be in the spring before we start."

The extension continues Sprigg Street from where it previously dead-ended at Bertling Street and runs north for one-quarter of a mile where it will meet the Lexington Street extension.

The project began July 24 and is scheduled for completion on July 17, 1996. The Lexington project should conclude around the same time.

Lester said curb and gutter work has been completed and storm-water-drainage work is about 95 percent finished. Concrete for curb inlets into an existing storm-water system on Bertling was laid Wednesday. All that remains is some minor repair work on Bertling.

"They are pretty much done for the year except for a little storm work and cleanup," Lester said.

Another important upcoming road project is the proposed widening and reconstruction of Broadway east from North Kingshighway to either Perry Avenue or West End Boulevard. As of yet, the details of the project are unknown. Engineering firms have already submitted proposals, and the city hopes to select one and negotiate a contract in January.

"We will look at the proposals, and from that we will decide what to go with," Lester said.

Few would argue that a way to relieve congestion on Broadway is needed. However, considering the numerous businesses and residences that line the street, there is little room for expansion.

Lester said that is the crux of the problem. "It will be a very difficult project to do, to be sure," he said.

Status of other roads projects:

-- Perryville Road, near Meyer Drive to city limits: A contractor should be selected by mid-January and construction plans ready by the end of August. Start of construction will depend upon right-of-way acquisition.

-- Hopper Road, Mount Auburn west to Kage Road: A contract with Bowen Construction has been approved. Construction plans should be ready by May. Right-of-way acquisition will begin after Jan. 1.

-- Silver Springs Road, William to Independence: Right-of-way drawings are complete. City staff will complete construction plans. A schedule will be established this month.

-- New Route 74 connections: A) Construction of Lorimier street segment is tied to the river bridge construction, which is currently unscheduled. B) Right-of-way drawings and descriptions of Mount Auburn Road south from Bloomfield are complete. Design is 90 percent complete. Construction to begin in late 1996 and scheduled for completion in 1997. C) Construction of Siemers Drive, south from Bloomfield is scheduled to coordinate with completion of Route 74 and Interstate 55 interchange. Start of interchange construction is set for early 1997. D) Preliminary design for Silver Springs Road, south from Bloomfield should be ready by May.

-- New Madrid Street, Show Me Center, west to Perry: A portion of this centered around the Henderson Street intersection has been approved for design and construction in 1996 through an agreement with Southeast Missouri State University. The balance of the work will need to be considered for scheduling in the capital improvements budget process.

-- Bloomfield Road, Christine Street east to Spring Street; Mount Auburn Road, widening and traffic signal; and Bloomfield Road, Kingshighway west to I-55: Engineering for thee projects will be done by city staff. A schedule will be established in the capital improvements budget process.