All it took was two cars to make many concertgoers late for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert Wednesday night near the Show Me Center.

A traffic accident backed up concert traffic along Sprigg Street. Some motorists waited more than 30 minutes to travel the distance from Broadway to the Show Me Center along Sprigg Street.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department was notified of a two-car accident at the intersection of Sprigg and Emerald streets -- between Dairy Queen and Rhodes 101 -- at around 7 p.m., spokesman Jason Selzer said. A full report on the accident wasn't complete Thursday afternoon, but no injuries were reported, Selzer said.

About 5,500 people attended the TSO concert.

Show Me Center marketing director Shannon Buford said the accident caused a snowball effect, stopping traffic just long enough to create gridlock along Sprigg Street, the main artery for traffic heading toward the Show Me Center.

The venue was not prepared for the situation, Buford said.

"It kind of opened our eyes that an accident could do that," Buford said. Once the accident Buford said. Once the accident happened, traffic could not be rerouted around the area until the wreck was cleared, he said.

Bill Shivelbine, owner of Shivelbine's Music, was one of those caught in the traffic. Shivelbine said about 30 minutes passed between the time he turned onto Sprigg Street from Broadway and the time he finally reached the venue.

"It was ridiculous," Shivelbine said of the traffic. Both he and his wife knew they should have tried to come into the Show Me Center from the north, Shivelbine said, but they came in from the south instead.

Buford said three officers with the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety helped with the concert Wednesday night, but only one of those was on traffic detail, along with the venue's regular parking staff. That officer directed traffic at Sprigg and New Madrid streets while the other two officers helped with security in the venue.

The Show Me Center normally does not ask city police for traffic control assistance, said Buford. The venue requested no assistance Wednesday night, he said.

City police only assist with traffic at Show Me Center events if they anticipate major traffic problems, have a major intersection blocked or are asked for assistance by the university, said Selzer.

But this kind of traffic backup was unprecedented for the Show Me Center, said Buford.

People also had to park farther away from the venue due to construction on a new swimming pool at the Student Recreation Center. Construction equipment caused part of the parking on the north side of the venue to be roped off.

Buford said the venue tried to ease the parking hassles as much as possible.

"We had a game plan, we went with it and we had an accident," Buford said.

Shivelbine had to park at Dempster Hall due to his late arrival. Despite the waiting in traffic and the bad parking spot, he said the concert was still worth the trouble.

"It blew me away," he said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182