The Broadway floodgate has been reopened in Cape Girardeau after a steady decline in Mississippi River levels.
“We are glad that it is open, that we can at least get the one open,” says Public Works Director Stan Polivick.
The Broadway gate opened Monday morning, but Polivick says a difference in elevation--about 18 inches--is keeping the Themis Street floodgate closed until later this week, when he expects waters to recede further. This could happen by Wednesday or Thursday.
“For the maintenance part of it, it’s an indication that the river’s dropping and getting back down inside flood stage, which would be wonderful for us after 132 days above flood stage,” says Polivick.
Visitors and bicyclists will have access to the trail again after today, and the Parks and Recreation department is working on clean-up now, he says.
He added the Parks Department will be involved in the reopening of the Themis Street. But Polivick says it looks like a return to normalcy is right around the bend.
“According to the current forecasting, we should see the river go below flood stage on August 4th, and we will be delighted to see that,” he says.