School, Cape officials plan connection to Kingshighway

On Cape Girardeau School District's first day of classes last September, cars lined up for miles along Mt. Auburn Road as parents and students waited up to a half hour to enter Central High School.

With only one entrance and exit to the new facility at 1000 S. Silver Springs Road, city and school officials anticipated, and prepared for, some traffic problems. But no one predicted just how bad the situation would be.

"The first bell was ringing and traffic was still backed up to the mall," said high school principal Dr. Mike Cowan. "I knew there were going to be problems, but I had no idea it would be that bad. I don't think anyone did."

A second entrance and exit to the school was eventually added on Silver Springs Road, greatly helping the traffic congestion. However, that road, which is supposed to connect with Kingshighway, has not yet been completed.

"We stopped just short of Kingshighway, and we still have to build the intersection there," said Cape Girardeau city planner Kent Bratton.

The project is a joint effort between the city and the Missouri Department of Transportation. School officials would like to see the project complete as soon as possible since it will provide another access to the school.

Bratton said the city has plans to select an engineer to design the project next month, and work could begin sometime this year.

"It'll be good to have another way out of the high school, since right now people can only go on Mount Auburn or North Silver Springs," Bratton said.