ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR BRIDGE ROUTE IS APPROVED

A major step for the proposed Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau was achieved last week, an official of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department said Monday.

District 10 Engineer Bob Sfreddo said the environmental assessment for the bridge right-of-way through Cape Girardeau was approved Friday by the Federal Highway Administration in Washington.

"It's a big milestone for the project," Sfreddo said. "We've been waiting a long time, since January, for approval of the environmental assessment."

Sfreddo says approval means the state will begin immediate negotiations with property owners to acquire the right-of-way for the route through the city to the new bridge. "We'll concentrate our efforts at first on the area from Sprigg Street east to the river," he said.

The bridge route will extend westward from the river, generally along College Street, to a new interchange with I-55.

Sfreddo said the next step in the bridge project is Coast Guard and Corps of Engineer approval of the bridge design. "The Coast Guard permit will deal with the navigational interests who will pass under the new bridge. The Section 404 permit from the Corps will deal with the river environment," he said. "It should take about one year to get the Coast Guard permit, and from 6-9 months for the 404 permit."

Sfreddo said the work on the design of the new bridge is under way by a consultant.