DOUBTS ON SPAN LIFTED; ILLINOIS COMMITS TO ITS DESIGN COSTS

Illinois has committed its share of design money for a new Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau, an action that should enable the project to stay ahead of schedule.

"They have written a letter and committed the funds to complete the design," said Cape Girardeau attorney John Oliver, a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. "We consider that to be a significant step because that means there won't be any delay."

A written agreement is being finalized between the highway departments of the two states, and Oliver expects it to be complete by the time the Missouri commission meets March 5.

The agreement is to share equally $2.2 million for an engineering study for new bridges at Cape Girardeau and Hannibal over the Mississippi River.

"This commitment will keep us on track, which is ahead of schedule," said Oliver.

Wayne Muri, chief engineer for the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department, received the commitment from Kirk Brown, secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illinois has been seeking additional federal funding from their state's normal allocation to pay its share of the bridge. Delays in getting Illinois' commitment threatened to stall the fast progress being made.

Said Oliver: "Illinois' position has always been, `We don't build river bridges or major river crossings from our regular allocation from state and federal funds; we only do that with discretionary funds,'"

He said it is unclear what the amount of discretionary funds are that will be available under the new highway bill passed in late 1991. Under the old highway bill, Oliver said there was considerably more available in discretionary money.

On the Illinois side the new bridge will tie in with Highway 146 at about the spot where a state historical marker sign is situated on the side of the road.

But on the Missouri side, a 3.5-mile Highway 74 relocation project will be completed to tie the bridge into Interstate 55.

Right-of-way acquisition and design on the 74 relocation is well under way; however, a lack of commitment from Illinois for its share of the bridge has clouded the project.

It is possible that construction on the $41.2 million bridge could be under way in fall 1994 if Illinois' funding comes across. Actual construction of the bridge will take about five years.

Oliver said the commitment from Illinois is "an intermediary step" and good news for the project.

"This represents, at the very least, a change or improved attitude from Illinois in the sense of complying with a previous verbal commitment," said Oliver. "It is a plus."