BRIDGE PROJECT AT HAND; ROUTE RIGHT OF WAY SOON TO BE BOUGHT

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Minnie Sanders' rental property faces certain destruction.

But that's just fine with Sanders, who says she'll be glad to get out of the rental business.

Sanders' property is one of nearly 140 tracts of land that the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department plans to acquire for construction of a new Mississippi River bridge and a connecting cross-town highway.

The highway department is gearing up for appraisal of properties and acquisition of right of way, said H.E. "Bob" Sfreddo, District 10 engineer at Sikeston.

Sanders moved from her brick house at 810 College Street to a new home on Lacey Street in 1989.

Sanders, who lives alone, said she made the move primarily because of her son's concern about the safety of the southside neighborhood.

But, she said, the fact that the new highway will take her College Street property helped encourage the move. "That had a little bit to do with it because I knew it (the highway) was going through," she said.

Sanders rents out her former home, but she said she'll be glad when the state buys the property.

She said most of the affected College Street residents are resigned to the move. "I think everybody is taking it in their stride because they know they are going to have to do it anyway," said Sanders.

Sfreddo said Tuesday that the highway department is in the process of submitting an environmental impact report, which must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration before any funding can be allocated for purchase of right of way for the project.

"The key right now is to get the environmental document approved," said Sfreddo.

He said he hopes that approval will be forthcoming within the next month. "We have the money," said Sfreddo. "The federal aid is available. State money to match it is available."

It's estimated right-of-way costs could total nearly $4 million. Sfreddo said the price tag includes not only the cost of the real estate, but also the cost of relocation assistance.

The purchase of about 40 tracts of land from a half block west of Sprigg Street east to the Mississippi River is expected to cost about $1 million, said Sfreddo.

The property is mostly residential, although four businesses in the area of Sprigg and College streets will also be affected, he said.

It's estimated that it will cost $2.7 million to acquire 85 tracts of land needed for highway right of way from Sprigg Street west to Interstate 55.

Another 13 tracts of land will be needed for construction of an interchange at I-55. That land could cost a total of $250,000, Sfreddo said.

Federal funds, he said, will pay from 75 to 80 percent of the cost of right-of-way acquisition, with the state paying the remainder.

Sfreddo said the highway department is concentrating now on acquiring right of way for the first section of the project, comprising the area from the river to just west of Sprigg Street. Plans for that section of right of way are done and work is proceeding on plans for the next section of right of way, he explained.

After acquiring right of way for the first section of the project, the highway department will look at acquiring the needed properties along College west of Sprigg, and then along Kingshighway.

There are a number of businesses in the Kingshighway area that have to be relocated. "They want to make arrangements to move," said Sfreddo.

He said that the highway department should be in a position to make offers on the first section of properties within two to three months.

Sfreddo said he hopes the land can be purchased without going through condemnation proceedings. "We hope that we can reach satisfactory agreements with everybody."

The highway department will seek to purchase the land at fair market value, he explained.

"Every property owner will be contacted prior to inspection of their property," said Leroy Nunn, the highway department's district right-of-way agent.

"We make an appointment and actually walk through the property (with the property owner) and go through the house," explained Nunn.

In addition to paying fair market value for the properties, Nunn said the highway department will also assist with relocating those individuals whose properties are being purchased.

"When we buy someone's house we do put them back into something that is comparable to what they are in now," said Nunn. In addition, the state pays all the moving expenses.

He said the relocation program applies to both renters and homeowners.

Under the relocation program, the state makes up the difference if comparable housing can't be found at the same price as what the renter had been paying or at the price for which the highway department purchased the property, said Nunn.

For example, if the state purchases a house for $30,000, and it costs $40,000 for the homeowner to purchase a comparable home, then the state will reimburse the homeowner for the $10,000 difference.

"The thing of it is, we don't just force them out on the street," said Nunn. "I don't want to leave the impression that there is a windfall here, but we try not to cause any undue hardship on anyone."

Sfreddo said the total cost of the bridge and highway project is estimated at about $90 million. Construction should begin in two to three years and take two years to complete, said Sfreddo.