Water St. tries for tourists with new direction

Street improvements include one-way traffic and new panels that explain floodwall murals.

City crews put the finishing touches on Water Street renovations Tuesday as motorists drove by on the one-way, southbound street, which has become a focus of tourism along Cape Girardeau's riverfront.

The city reopened the street to traffic late Friday afternoon, but some of the most noticeable improvements weren't made until Monday. That's when 25 reader boards were erected along Water Street's new brick-paver sidewalk to explain the local history depicted in each panel of the downtown floodwall mural.

On Tuesday, city crews installed the metal chain that connects the antique-green posts that separate the renovated street, sidewalk and reader boards from the adjacent train tracks.

The $300,000 project also included installation of two major water lines under the new street as well as the asphalt paving of the two-block road and the addition of angled parking.

Crews have striped the street to provide for 40 regular parking spots and three reserved for the handicapped, city officials said.

So far, authorities say the change to a one-way street hasn't caused any traffic confusion. Temporary barriers have been placed at Water and Independence streets to block cars from accidentally turning north on Water Street.

The street will formally be opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Water and Themis streets at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

A mural dedication ceremony is scheduled for noon on July 7.

Tim Arbeiter, executive director of the Old Town Cape redevelopment organization, said the downtown mural, completed last November, and the new Water Street renovations have dressed up the area.

"It creates an ambiance and atmosphere," he said.

The project was completed in less than two months, which is a short time for such a project, said city engineer Josh Richardson.

"It took a lot of coordination in a very short period of time," Richardson said. "All the contractors had to work together."

He said that was accomplished by using city crews, as well as several contractors who were already doing construction projects for the city. Workers with Alliance Water Resources, the company that operates the city's water system, installed two new water lines.

Richardson said it made sense to install the water lines since the street was being torn up anyway.

"At least we don't have to dig up the downtown area again," he said.

A federal grant helped pay for the mural. Private donations raised by the River Heritage Mural Association and city money paid for the Water Street improvements.

Including water improvements, the city is paying about half of the total cost of the project, Richardson said. But he said city officials haven't tabulated all of the costs yet.

The area north of the Broadway and Water Street intersection has been paved with gravel for now. City officials have discussed the possibility of creating a small park there, but nothing has been finalized.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123