Final bids awarded for bridge construction

6 miles of I-55 also contracted

Business Today

The state's highway commission awarded the final two construction contracts for the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge in mid-June. The contracts include work on the Missouri approach roadway and the Illinois bridge deck.

The Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission gave a $4.19 million contract to Traylor Brothers Inc. of Evansville, Ind., to construct the deck on the Illinois approach spans. That's the same contractor who is currently being paid $53.7 million to build the main bridge span.

The commission awarded a $2.03 million contract to Bross Construction/C.B. Equipment Inc. of Hannibal, Mo., to extend Highway 74 from Sprigg Street to the bridge. Highway 74 from Sprigg Street west to Interstate 55 has been open since October 1997.

Work on the new phases of construction could begin in September. The entire $100 million bridge project should be completed by fall 2003, highway officials said.

The commission also gave another contract for roadwork in Southeast Missouri.

Bross Construction received a $574,667 contract to repair pavement on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County. The contractor will repair six miles of pavement on the southbound lanes of I-55 from Fruitland to the Cape Girardeau/Jackson exit at U.S. 61.

Work will get under way in August on the road repairs and the project should be completed by winter, highway officials said.