Drivers making quick round trips on bridge

Many drivers were going across the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge on Sunday only to come right back to Cape Girardeau, much as drivers did on Saturday, the day the bridge opened.

Howard Aslinger of Cape Girardeau crossed the bridge for the first time on Sunday, waiting for the commotion to die down before making the journey.

"It's really amazing to see everybody driving across the bridge and then turning right around," said Aslinger, who made the trip with his wife, Jean.

Some were taking photos of the new bridge, like Tom Nunnally of Cape Girardeau. "I'm a construction worker, so how the bridge was made is really interesting to me," said Nunnally, who brought his family members because they didn't get to see it Saturday.

Joggers and bikers were also taking advantage of the new bridge on Sunday.

"This is my first time jogging across the river here," said Brian Kelpe of Cape Girardeau. "I've always wanted to, but I never trusted the traffic on the old bridge. My friends did sometimes, and I thought they were crazy."

But there were still people admiring the old Mississippi River bridge, which will be demolished sometime next year.

Sue Morrow of Cape Girardeau was snapping pictures of the old bridge.

"I want to get a record of it before they tear it down," she said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 226