Route K construction changes Notre Dame traffic

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Notre Dame Regional High School is adjusting its start time and traffic plan as construction continues along Route K near the school.

The school has been starting classes at 8:30 a.m. this week to help spread out morning traffic while families adjust to changing access around campus.

Notre Dame President Tim Garner said the later start is meant to give students and families more time as they learn the new traffic pattern.

“As a solution for the school, we’ve delayed the start of school to 8:30,” Garner said. “Which has just spread out the arrival time for all of our families as they’ve come.”

Students will again start at 8:30 a.m. Friday. The school is using the extra time to let families practice the new route before it begins working students back toward a normal schedule next week.

Missouri Department of Transportation crews added a temporary turn lane west of Notre Dame to help move school traffic while access at the main entrance remains limited.

Drivers coming from Cape Girardeau will pass the normal Notre Dame entrance, turn left on County Road 206 and then take County Road 203 to reach the back entrance of the school.

The main entrance will still allow limited right-in, right-out traffic during construction.

MoDOT Resident Engineer Kevin Plott said crews are trying to accommodate school traffic during the busiest parts of the day.

“We are trying to do everything we can to accommodate all the different movements, especially during those peak times when everybody’s trying to get to school and out of school,” Plott said.

The traffic changes are part of the larger Route K improvement project. Crews are widening the roadway, adding lanes and preparing to construct a roundabout in front of Notre Dame.

MoDOT expects roundabout construction to begin in late September or early October.

The overall project is expected to continue into fall 2027.

“We’re anticipated to go into the fall of 2027 before everything’s complete,” Plott said. “So it’s going to be going on for an extended period of time through this school year and into the summer of next year.”

MoDOT is using message boards and new striping to help direct drivers as traffic patterns continue to change.

Garner said students and families should continue giving themselves extra time to get to school.

“We’d rather you get to school safely than try to get in a rush,” Garner said.

MoDOT is also asking drivers to slow down, watch for stopped traffic and stay alert around the school entrances.

To learn more on Route K’s construction visit: Modot.org/projects