DISTRICT ENGINEER LEAVES FOR CAPITAL ASSIGNMENT

SIKESTON -- Missouri Highway and Transportation Department District 10 Engineer Bob Sfreddo will resign his post here Aug. 1 to become head of the state's design division.

Sfreddo, who has spent 30 years with the highway and transportation department, is moving back to the department's headquarters in Jefferson City, where he'll be responsible for roadway plan preparation for the nation's sixth largest state highway system.

The division conducts ground and aerial surveys, determines the best locations for highway improvements and develops project specifications and cost estimates. Sfreddo also will be responsible for overseeing environmental clearances for highway projects.

He said that given the likelihood that Missouri will realize increased funding from a new federal highway bill, one of his first items of business will be figuring the best way to spend that money.

"The challenges are going to be, finding a way to produce the plans that are going to be necessary to be able to spend this additional funding that's going to be coming available," Sfreddo said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge, but I'm sure going to miss my work down here. I've really enjoyed working with the people down here, and we've worked hard to try to get the job done."

Sfreddo said that a highway project rarely pleases everyone involved. But, he said, he's always tried to make every effort in the district to reach compromises for the good of everyone involved.

"You can't always do what everybody wants done," Sfreddo said. "It's a matter of sitting down with all the parties involved and trying to work out the best situation for everybody. That's what my philosophy is."

Sfreddo has been district engineer at the department's Southeast Missouri office in Sikeston since 1987. In his new position, he will replace James F. Roberts, who is retiring.

Sfreddo joined the department in 1961 and has worked as a highway design engineer, district chief designer and field liaison engineer for location and design.

Prior to coming to Sikeston, Sfreddo was assistant division engineer of operations in the headquarters design division in Jefferson City.

Sfreddo said he was pleased with several projects that were realized during his tenure as District 10 engineer.

"Shortly after I came to work down here, Proposition A was voted in by the people on April 7, 1987," he said. "We all worked hard on that.

"It took the preparation of the legislation by legislators and the governor and, finally, it took the people to vote it in."

The tax measure earmarked funding for specific, priority highway projects across the state, including several in Southeast Missouri.

"The first one that comes to mind is the work done between Jackson and Interstate 55," Sfreddo said. "Most of that work was made possible by passage of Proposition A.

"That was probably the biggest project we worked on."

Another project, the construction of a new William Street-Kingshighway intersection in Cape Girardeau, also was funded by Proposition A.

"That was probably the largest intersection project I've ever been involved with," Sfreddo said.

He said other projects included redecking of I-55 bridges south of Cape Girardeau and widening of the Ramsey Creek crossing of I-55 near Scott City. Also, Cape Girardeau is closer than ever to getting a new Mississippi River bridge and highway through the south end of the city, Sfreddo said.

"While it doesn't show yet, I think we've made real good progress on the Mississippi River bridge (project)," he said. "There's been a lot of work done already on that project in the way of preparation of plans and receiving the necessary approvals of the Federal Highway Department."

Sfreddo said the department is nearing completion of the necessary environmental approvals to begin right-of-way acquisition.

"We're real pleased with the progress," he said. "It could have been a lot faster, but we hope to see a little more activity on the ground so people can see what's going on."

Sfreddo said he's also excited at the prospect of additional highway funding in Missouri under the new federal highway bill, which the House now is considering.

"The new federal highway legislation seems to be moving along pretty well," he said. "It's through the Senate, and we're anxious to see it get through the House so they can get it through (a conference) committee."

Under the Senate version of the bill, Missouri would receive about $429 million in federal funds annually, compared with the $250 million the state now gets.

"That's a pretty good shot in the arm," Sfreddo said. "We would hope to use that to advance some of these other projects that are being considered and, of course, we have the unfunded needs study to look at."

Although he said he's looking forward to the new position, Sfreddo said he will miss working daily with the people of Southeast Missouri.

"It's been a wonderful and rewarding experience for me," he said. "I just know I'm just going to miss it a lot.

"I won't be out every day working with the people, and I'm going to miss that."