CONTRACT AWARDED FOR TWO BRIDGES AS PART OF CROSS-CITY HIGHWAY PLAN

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has awarded a $2.9 million contract to a Poplar Bluff firm for construction of two bridges over Cape LaCroix Creek in Cape Girardeau.

The bridges are part of the larger Highway 74 relocation and Mississippi River bridge construction project.

Freeman McCullah, District 10 engineer for the highway department's Sikeston office, said the contract was awarded April 8 to Robertson Inc., Bridge and Grading Division of Poplar Bluff for $2,940,338.

McCullah said the contractor will begin construction of the bridges in early May. The 820-foot bridges for east- and westbound lanes will be between Minnesota and Rust avenues. A contact for the construction of the adjacent 1.7-miles of four-lane roadway from South Kingshighway to South Sprigg will be let this year, MuCullah said.

"Due to the remote location of the construction, motorists will not be affected by the work," McCullah said.

Tom Stehn of the District 10 planning and design section said the bridges should be completed in mid-1995. He said construction of the 1.7 miles of roadway between South Sprigg and South Kingshighway will begin this fall, with most of the work taking place in 1995.

"As soon as the roadway and bridges over Cape LaCroix Creek are completed, that section of new highway will be opened to traffic, hopefully, in late 1995 or in early 1996, he said.

Stehn said site work on the new Highway 74-I-55 interchange will reusume as soon as the weather permits. Much of the work on the east side of the interchange was completed last fall. However, wet weather last winter and this spring has delayed completion of the construction and installation of drainage tile.

The Cape Girardeau project was one of 40 projects worth $43 million that were approved by the highway commission last week during its monthly meeting.

"This is a big year for highway improvements," said Wayne Muri, highway department chief engineer. "Due to increased state and federal funding, we'll award a record $475 million in construction projects in 1994. That means dramatic road improvements for motorists and a big boost in the Missouri economy."