Blair Packaging staff now may be out of Cape site eight months

A structural engineer has determined it could take six to eight months to repair a collapsed roof at Blair Packaging at 24 S. Sheridan Blvd. in Cape Girardeau, company officials said Wednesday.

Marketing director Joe Bullock had estimated Tuesday it would take six to eight weeks to repair the roof that was damaged by heavy ice and snow from last week's storm.

"The immediate goal is to shore up the existing roof and beams so that we can safely remove the equipment and move it down to our Scott City location," Bullock said Wednesday.

"When the equipment is removed, the deconstruction and construction of the new beams and roof will begin."

The company is using engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, which was responsible for the redesign and retrofitting of Soldier Field in Chicago.