CITY GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES 17 NEW ROUTES FOR BIG TRUCKS

Cape Girardeau now has 17 official truck routes.

The City Council and city staff had been working to revise the truck traffic ordinance, which previously listed the streets on which trucks and motorized equipment weighing more than 24,000 pounds were prohibited.

Earlier this month councilmen approved a list of nine designated truck routes, but some routes were corrected and eight were added at the suggestion of city staff and business owners, said city manager Michael Miller.

Trucks weighing more than 24,000 pounds can still travel non-designated routes, but drivers will have to get special permits issued by the city engineer's office or the police department.

The newest version of the ordinance, given final approval by the City Council Monday night, exempts utility trucks such as those used by AmerenUE, TCI and the city water company from needing the permits to traverse non-designated routes.

These routes have been designated for truck traffic:

-- All state and federal routes.

-- William from Kingshighway to Ellis.

-- Aquamsi from Route 74 to Willow.

-- Independence from Main Street to Broadview.

-- Southern Expressway from Kingshighway to Sprigg.

-- Broadview from Independence to Maria Louisa Lane.

-- Maria Louisa Lane from Broadview to Kingshighway.

-- Main Street from Fourth Street to Mason.

-- Giboney from Elm to South Sprigg.

-- Ellis from William to Morgan Oak.

-- Morgan Oak from Ellis to South Sprigg.

-- Willow from Aquamsi to Fountain.

-- Fountain from Willow to Elm.

-- Elm from Fountain to Giboney.

-- North Sprigg to Lexington.

-- Lexington from North Sprigg to Route 177.

"Generally, the truck routes were meant to follow those areas where trucks are now traveling regularly," Miller said.

City officials say the ordinance is aimed at helping truck drivers get around the city more easily.

The short stretch of Lexington Avenue has always been intended as a truck route and was added to help "bring trucks off 177, so they don't have to go downtown to make that big turn at Broadway and Main, and they can get a little easier run to the bridge," Mayor Al Spradling III said.