Cape Girardeau officials have announced that the project to widen Independence Street will begin Monday.

Work on side streets will start first to ensure access to affected properties on the south side of Independence Street.

Work will begin at Pacific Street and proceed west to Minnesota Avenue, at which point the contractor, Fronabarger Concreters, will begin at Kingshighway and proceed east toward Minnesota Avenue. As the project continues, two block sections are planned to be closed entirely, at Pacific Street and at Caruthers Avenue.

Full closure of the street is not planned until after utility poles have been relocated by Ameren, AT&T and Charter Communications.

One-way traffic is planned between Kingshighway and Caruthers Avenue. Intersections at West End Boulevard and Caruthers Avenue will be closed during the project for no more than 21 days each.

Motorists will be alerted to road closures and detour information with changeable message boards north, south, east and west of construction zones, in addition to standard signs.