Residents lament loss of trees for Bloomfield Road project

Dozens of trees have been marked with a red X along a half-mile stretch of Bloomfield Road. When Lorene Wood sees them, she sees the death of one of the most scenic roadways in Cape Girardeau.

"It's just not right," Wood said. "They call it progress. I call it disgusting. But they're going to do what they want to do. "

Wood was just one of more than 50 people who turned out Thursday night at the Osage Centre to voice opinions about a $1.25 million road-widening project on Bloomfield Road this summer and the next phase that will take place in 2013.

Starting in June, the city has contracted work that calls for removing existing surfacing, regrading and realigning the roadway from Stonebridge Drive to just south of the Benton Hill Road intersection.

The project also calls for putting about 190 linear feet of new roadway for the adjoining County Road 206, installing retaining walls, fencing, storm sewer improvements and an eight-foot-wide trail along Bloomfield Road.

While city officials say widening Bloomfield is crucial for making safer a road that is the site of several accidents a year and even an occasional road fatality, many who attended the meeting wanted to talk about the trees.

In order to widen the road from 22 feet to 28 feet, as many as 150 trees will have to be taken down.

Susan Smith doesn't live along Bloomfield Road, but she said she absolutely hates the project.

"It's such a beautiful canopy in the fall," Smith said. "It just seems sinful to do this. It's a shame."

And the loss of trees may not end there. While no specifics have been planned for the next phase, if it's similar to this summer's work, more trees will come down in two years. Project manager David Whitaker said the city is starting with the concept that the next phase will be similar to the work this summer, but added that input from the meeting Thursday could change the nature of the work in 2013.

"But safety is one of the significant reasons we're doing the project," Whitaker said.

The next phase would widen Bloomfield Road west of the Benton Hill Road intersection to White Oaks Lane.

Not every resident was opposed to the project.

"I think it's a great idea," said Steve Griffith, who lives on nearby Winwood Drive. "There have been numerous accidents, and the road is way too narrow. The trees are beautiful, but that's progress. And my wife and I are really excited about the trail."

City engineer Kelly Green said the city has taken measures to minimize the loss of trees, but that some would have to come down in order to widen the road. She also said nothing was set in stone for the next phase and that they would compile the input from Thursday night's meeting.

Other residents also groused about the fact that portions of the street will close this summer. Starting Wednesday and until the end of the project -- which could be in January -- Bloomfield Road will be closed to through traffic just south of Stonebridge Drive to just north of the Benton Hill intersection.

In mid-July, the Bloomfield Road and Benton Hill Road intersection will be closed for no more than 30 days.

"When it's done, we think the road will be safer," Green said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield Road, Cape Girardeau, MO