NEW HIGHWAY 74

Winter weather has delayed the opening of the newly completed portion of Missouri Highway 74 through the southern part of Cape Girardeau from Kingshighway to Sprigg Street, but only by a little bit. Officials hope to open this first portion of what will eventually become the access route for the new Mississippi River bridge sometime next week.

When completed, the highway will connect Interstate 55 to the west and the planned new river bridge to the east.

This is a major improvement for the community that will increase safety, speed the flow of traffic and provide development opportunities along its route. Already, several major construction projects and improvements have been completed or are in the planning stages along its route.

It is interesting to note that at the time of planning for the new route, concerns were commonly expressed that the new route would somehow cut off or divide that portion of the city lying south of its path. These concerns now seem clearly to have been overblown. Access through cross streets is easy and, in fact, has been significantly improved by the wide, new east-west route. May Greene School and the southside neighborhood surrounding it remain a vital part of our community and will continue as such. In fact, the new route may even serve as a much-needed catalyst for investment and improvements in this older part of the city.

With this large portion of the new state route a reality, officials in both Missouri and Illinois must redouble their efforts to make the new $80 million bridge a reality.