Water, trail, roads top Cape projects in 2003

Cape Girardeau spent over $24 million on major projects upgrading its streets, and water and sewer systems last year.

"It is evident we have a real aggressive capital improvements program," city manager Doug Leslie said.

On the list of improvements, the largest single price tag was expansion of the city's main water plant, a $17.6 million project that was largely completed last year. The project included the drilling of 10 new wells on the banks of the Mississippi River and improvements to the 70-year-old Cape Rock water plant.

Voters passed a bond issue in 1996 and began paying a quarter-cent sales tax in 1997 to cover the cost of the treatment plant project.

The improved plant processes an annual average of 6 million gallons of water a day. Before the improvements, it could handle only about 4.3 million gallons daily, officials said.

Another major water project was the extension of a 12-inch main water line to the Nash Road industrial park, a $421,000 project that involved burying pipe under the Diversion Channel, Leslie said.

The city spent nearly $420,000 on riverfront trail improvements on the Mississippi River side of the floodwall and is spending another $292,000 to expand the project.

When completed later this year, the concrete trail will extend half a mile along the riverbank. That distance includes the city's 650-foot-long concrete and cobblestone park between the Broadway and Themis Street floodgates.

City officials and civic leaders said the project will open up the city's riverfront to hikers and bikers as well as provide places to sit and gaze at the river.

Road projects

The city completed or started seven major road projects totaling more than $4.35 million, including work on Silver Springs Road, the widening of Mount Auburn Road and the construction of a new Fountain Street and storm drainage basin bordering the planned Southeast Missouri State University River Campus.

The Fountain Street and storm drainage work cost $1.18 million. Federal funding paid all but $258,000 of the cost. Money in the city's transportation sales tax fund paid the rest, city officials said.

The $377,600 widening of Mount Auburn Road -- funded with transportation sales tax dollars -- included installation of traffic signals at the Independence Street intersection, replacing the four-way stop signs.

City officials said the project improved traffic flow and safety on the heavily traveled north-south road.

The widening of Mount Auburn Road from William Street to Independence began last March. Contractor Lappe Cement Finishing of Perryville, Mo., finished early without ever completely closing Mount Auburn Road to traffic.

Mayor Jay Knudtson flipped a switch to activate the new intersection traffic signals on Aug. 29.

"I've never been so happy to see a green light and a red light in my life," the mayor said.

City officials celebrated the start of a major bridge project late last year on the city's west side.

Construction of a new bridge over Bloomfield Road, a $535,000 project, should be completed this summer, city planner Kent Bratton said. Federal grant money is paying 80 percent of the cost of the project. The city is paying the other 20 percent.

The new bridge west of Interstate 55 will replace a deteriorating, narrow span barely wide enough for today's traffic.

The project will tie in with the widening of Bloomfield Road from Siemers Drive to Stonebridge, scheduled for later this year, city officials said.

Sewer improvements

The city was involved in three major sewer improvement projects, the most expensive being the $1.33 million Arena Creek sewer project.

The city spent $480,000 on taxiway improvements at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, funded largely with federal money.

Leslie said the city benefited from other construction projects too, including the Red House Interpretive Center which celebrates the legacy of Cape Girardeau founder Louis Lorimier, and the start of construction on the $4.7 million Missouri Conservation Department Nature Center in Cape Girardeau County Park North.

Skateboarders had something to cheer about, too.

The city turned former tennis courts in little-used Missouri Park into a skate park. The Cape Girardeau Evening Optimists donated $15,000 in bingo profits to pay for the metal equipment -- six ramps, two rails and a rectangular platform.

The city opened the park in late October but didn't officially dedicate it until Nov. 8.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123