Route K Corridor Upgrades in Cape Girardeau

Construction of the Route K corridor project in Cape Girardeau County is slated to begin this May. The project includes constructing a roundabout at Notre Dame High School, adding a center two-way left turn lane west of County Road 319 to Cape Girardeau, and adding an eastbound lane starting at Notre Dame Drive and tying into the existing eastbound 5-lane section near Wal-Mart's entrance.

Work will be staged and will be underway Monday, May 11, 2026 through Monday, Nov. 1, 2027, weather permitting. The stages will include:

• Stage 1: Work will occur on the north side of Route K and includes constructing the new Notre Dame Drive and extending two box culverts.
  • During this stage, work will be completed in phases from CRD 319 to east of Notre Dame Drive, Notre Dame Drive to east of CRD 317, and then from west of CRD 317 to Siemers Drive.
  • This stage will have minimal impacts on traffic.
  • Tentatively, Stage 1 will be underway May 2026 through fall 2026.
• Stage 2: Work will occur on the south side of Route K and includes a majority of the roundabout construction.
  • During this stage, work will be completed in phases from west of CRD 319 to east of Notre Dame Drive, west of Notre Dame Drive to East of Onyx Lane (roundabout construction), and West of Onyx Lane to Cape Girardeau.
  • Tentatively, Stage 2 will begin in late fall 2026.
  • This stage will have minimal impacts on traffic.
• Stage 3: The north side of the roundabout will be constructed in approximately 1.5 to 2 months.
• Stage 4: Work will remove the old Notre Dame Drive and add pavement east of Notre Dame on the south side of Route K. This will be underway for approximately 1.5 to 2 months.

This project will be completed in an effort to improve safety and traffic flow along the Route K corridor.

The route will remain open throughout construction, with minor lane shifts under flagger control. As needed, the driving lane will be reduced to a 10-foot width restriction. The work zone will be marked with signs.  Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. 

Public Meeting Held April 18, 2024

The Missouri Department of Transportation held a public meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18 to discuss plans to improve the Route K corridor in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The meeting was held at Notre Dame High School, located at 265 Notre Dame Dr. in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 

If you missed the public meeting, the meeting handout and exhibits are included below.

Traffic studies completed in 2022 and 2024 looked at the corridor from County Road 319 to 0.20 miles east of County Road 317. The proposed project includes widening the roadway, adding a center turn lane and constructing a roundabout at Notre Dame Drive. Construction could begin as early as spring 2026, with completion anticipated by fall 2026. It is anticipated the route would remain open throughout all phases of construction, with minor lane shifts under flagger control.