Mount Auburn project magnifies other needs

When bids for the widening of Mount Auburn Road between William and Independence streets in Cape Girardeau were opened recently, there was some good news. Both bids for a five-lane projects were lower than estimates for a four-lane project.

Just about everyone saw the need for five lanes, but city officials have said all along that the scope of the widening project would hinge on how much the bids were when it came time to start construction.

The widening project is one of the city's Transportation Trust Fund projects funded by a special city sales tax that has been approved twice by voters. Under the trust fund, projects are placed on a priority list and constructed as funding becomes available through sales-tax collections. Under this program, dozens of major street improvements have been completed throughout the city in recent years.

The portion of Mount Auburn between William -- one of the most heavily traveled streets in the city -- and Independence -- another major east-west artery -- has long needed widening. This project will not only widen that portion of the street, but it will include the addition of traffic signals at Independence -- another much-needed upgrade as that street is being extended farther west.

One sticking point in this project is the fate of the frontage road that parallels William to the west of Mount Auburn. The entrance from Mount Auburn to the frontage road, which extends west to Farrar Street, is right at the intersection, and the city has been saying for more than a year that the entrance would have to be closed for safety reasons.

While the case for closing the frontage road at that point is a good one, it also magnifies the problems that already exist in the vicinity of the William-Farrar intersection. In fact, those problems will only intensify if the frontage road is cut off at the other end.

The William-Farrar intersection is one of the trickiest in the city. It is only a few feet from I-55 ramps. There are no traffic signals. Motorists turning onto Farrar are immediately confronted with turns onto the frontage road to the right and Vantage Drive to the left. Those continuing on Farrar must navigate a sharp jog in the street similar to one being replaced on North Main Street to improve safety.

Clearly, with the improvements about to be made on Mount Auburn, the situation at William and Farrar must be addressed. Signals must be installed. Consideration of moving the frontage road to the rear of the affected businesses should be considered. Relocating the Vantage Drive connection with Farrar deserves a close look.

Thanks to retail, hotel and restaurant development in the area, William Street is a major access to the city from I-55. Every effort should be made to ensure safety and smooth traffic flows.