Buckeye Creek bridge officially opens

From left, Mark Shelton, Missouri Department of Transportation Southeast District engineer; Darren Lingle, representing U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson; Linda Schoen (background); Lauren Dixon, Kaylee Dixon and Josh Overbeck; Don Hillis of MoDOT; Tom Schulte, representing U.S. Sen. Kit Bond; and Troy Heckmaster, KTU program manager cut a ribbon Tuesday at the site of the new U.S. 61 bridge over Buckeye Creek in Cape Girardeau County. The ribbon cutting celebrated the opening of the bridge. Work to replace the bridge began in April and ended in mid-May. The project is the first Design-Build Safe and Sound Project in the county. The Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program includes deck and beam replacements on 248 bridges and total replacement of 554 bridges, according to MoDOT engineer Andy Meyer.