Abbey Road stormwater basin needs expansion

To the editor:

I must applaud the article by Bob Miller dated Aug. 12, 2002, "Spillway for Cape's detention basin close to completion." This third phase of the stormwater-control project will further protect Cape Girardeau and primarily its business district along Kingshighway.

Does the city realize that the dry-water basin at the corner of Lexington Avenue and Abbey Road is inadequate in capacity and poorly constructed? The basin overflows yearly during heavy rain as exemplified May 13 with 3.61 inches. Multiple homes in the neighborhood have water problems caused by the backing up of the creeks feeding this basin. The problem increases every year as more homes are built and the runoff water increases. There are at least four locations of street flooding causing traffic stoppage in this area.

To magnify the problem a home is being built adjoining the basin along Abbey Road that further reduces the overflow capacity and increases the runoff again. The result will be additional water damage to existing homeowners.

Isn't it about time that the city considers annexing the land along Abbey Road and expanding the dry-water basin over to Abbey Road? I would estimate this would increase the capacity of the basin by approximately 25 percent and increase the performance of the basin in heavy rains. This action would reduce the amount of water damage to the homeowners.

WAYNE A. MATTES

Cape Girardeau