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Cape Girardeau Marks Completion Of Broadway Construction

Jacob McCleland
/
KRCU

The bulldozers and jackhammers are gone from Broadway Street, and Cape Girardeau now has its first complete streetscape. The next step will include new benches, trash cans, banners and other amenities.

The $4.4 million project was funded by the voter-approved Transportation Trust Fund and by a one million dollars contribution from Isle of Capri Casino.

Even though the heavy lifting is done, Cape Girardeau mayor Harry Rediger says that’s not the end of the work.

“It should continue to evolve with new storefronts, new businesses, additional parking, new marketing.,” Rediger said. “There’s just a lot that can go on and create a continual, exciting thing for people to say ‘I want to go down and stroll the promenade and be a part of what’s going on on Broadway.’”

Throughout the 6-month long project, businesses were forced to deal with dust, noise, and construction that would block off their entrances. The city required the contractor, Fronabarger Concreters, to never close off a block for more than 21 days. Fronabarger complied.

Old Town Cape director Marla Mills says six new businesses either opened on Broadway or moved there during the construction period.

“So to have it happen during construction means that people are really excited about the street and what it brings,” Mills said.

Robert Gentry owns The Corner Grocery Store at 439 Broadway. He proactively promoted his business’ back entrance and started a delivery service. But six months ago, Gentry was nervous.

“We were very much concerned. We prayed on it a lot. We kept our blinders on, knowing that this day would eventually come, that the completion would come and we could bring our heads up high and be proud of what they have done. And they have done a wonderful job,” Gentry said.

Gentry tried to communication with his customer base to keep people coming through his doors. He plans to continue his delivery service even though construction in complete.

“We looked at every possible angle that we could do to improve our business and to keep our business where it was prior to the construction, hoping it would grow after the construction,” Gentry said.

Some local businesses are improving their storefronts in anticipation of the new streetscape.

“Some of it is just painting,” Mills said. “Some of it is much more in-depth, some repointing, tuck pointing, doing all kinds of different things to the buildings all along the corridor.”

Those Broadway businesses include Philanthropy, Harrison Apartments, Annie Laurie’s, Sweet Design, Bob’s Shoes, SEMO Laundry and Last Call.

During construction, workers would run across infrastructure from a bygone era, like old streetcar rails and coal chutes.

At Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, city officials gave slices of those streetcar rails to the major players who helped complete the project.