Transportation fund is paving the way

The unusually high number of street-improvement projects created a navigational nightmare for Cape Girardeau drivers in 2001 as they dodged a seemingly unending line of orange cones, or plotted intricate alternate routes to avoid them.

It may have been a pain, but city engineer Mark Lester said it was worth it.

"Look at all the work we got done," Lester said. "This is the most money ever spent in a year, and I think it's the most projects we've done in one year. Of course I'm pleased."

The city spent $6.1 million in Transportation Trust Fund taxes to pave or reconstruct 3.5 miles of roads in 2001, finishing seven high-profile projects as well as some routine work on sidewalks and gravel roads.

Cape Girardeau resident Joyce Blanton lives at 1825 New Madrid, which was widened in 2000.

"It was a little bit of trouble but I survived," said Blanton. "It's a whole lot better. It's wider and easier to see where you're going. I think it's worth whatever inconvenience there was."

The Transportation Trust Fund is generated by a half-cent sales tax that pays to improve streets that are part of a five-year plan. Cape Girardeau voters first approved the tax in 1995 and extended it in 2000.

But the large number of projects caused some to complain. City planning and zoning commissioner Harry Rediger said he worried people might be so upset at the inconvenience they might vote against extending the tax in 2005.

The reasons behind the large number of projects were myriad. Bad weather held up projects on Broadway, Silver Springs and Hopper roads. The process is long and involves many steps, including planning, design, construction and city council approval. Any one of these steps can be delayed causing whole projects to fall behind.

Lester said he was more than aware of the aggravation.

"People forget that we drive around those cones too," Lester said. "It was a pain in the butt for me too."

Mayor Al Spradling III said the improved streets should persuade residents to keep voting for the tax despite any problems.

"It hit us hard this year," Spradling said. "They all hit at once, but it's over and we accomplished a lot."

Fewer in 2002

Next year won't be as bad for drivers because the number of Transportation Trust Fund projects will shrink from eight to two or three, Lester said.

Silver Springs Road, the gravel road in front of the new high school, is slated for paving before school starts in the fall, Lester said. Bloomfield Road from Siemers to Stone Bridge is scheduled to be widened from 24 to 36 feet. It is also possible that Mount Auburn Road will be widened from William to Independence.

"Other than that, the street work shouldn't be that big a problem for drivers in 2002," Lester said.

Spradling agreed.

"Silver Springs will not be a big inconvenience to drivers because very few people will be on it," he said. "The Bloomfield project will create some problems, though."

That project includes replacing the Ramsey Creek bridge. A temporary bridge will be built, he said.

Spradling said the city has learned from its mistakes.

"We'll try not to have such a madhouse in the future," he said. "But I think once people get over being tired of driving around orange cones, they'll see what a wonderful situation has been developed here."

Cape Girardeau resident Scott Geringer is pleased. He uses the bike trail that was built as part of the East Rodney bridge project.

"It's safer," he said. "Before we had to go right across the street, but now we can go under it. It's real nice."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137