Engineering firms vie for Cape County bridge replacement job

Cape Girardeau County commissioners Monday passed along the qualifications of eight engineering firms to be reviewed by the highway department as possible contractors for a bridge replacement project on County Road 272.

Great River Engineering Inc. of Bowling Green, Mo., Waters Engineering Inc. of Sikeston, Mo., Smith & Co. Engineers of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Kuhlmann Design Group Inc. of St. Louis, BFA Inc. of Washington, Mo., Horner & Shifrin Inc. of St. Louis, Bowen Engineering and Surveying of Cape Girardeau, and Koehler Engineering and Land Surveying Inc. of Cape Girardeau all submitted statements of qualification. Whichever firm is determined to be the most qualified will be approached for contract negotiations. If an agreement cannot be reached, the county will move to the next most qualified applicant.

The bridge will cost $325,000 to $350,000 to replace, Commissioner Paul Koeper said. Federal funds from fuel taxes allocated to the county to replace bridges that lie outside major state road systems will pay for the project.

The commission also approved a statement of county railroad and utility property certified by the county clerk's office to be submitted as required by state statute to the state tax commission. Based on values provided by the assessor's office, real and personal property values of the nine private railroad and utility companies in the county total $2,415,039.

Pertinent address:

County Road 272, Welch, MO

1 Barton Sq., Cape Girardeau, MO