HIGHWAY BUILDING COULD EXPLODE

SIKESTON - Highway and bridge construction could be on the verge of exploding in Missouri, thanks to a new federal highway bill that raises the state's return on fuel taxes paid and the possibility of enhanced revenue from an increased state fuel taxes.

"The difference with what we could do with additional funds is astronomical," said Freeman McCullough, chief engineer for District 10 of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Dept.

The new federal highway bill passed by Congress late last year will give Missouri a return of almost 98 cents for every dollar in federal fuel taxes paid, compared with about 78 cents under the old formula.

In order to have enough state money to provide the full match of about 20 percent to access all federal funds, and to fund a massive list of needed road and bridge projects across the state over the next 15 years, state highway officials are proposing a 6-cent fuel tax increase.

Highway officials are asking the General Assembly to increase the fuel tax by 2 cents immediately, by 2 cents in 1994 and another 2 cents in 1996.

The issue which has been endorsed by House Speaker Bob Griffin, Senate President Jim Mathewson, and Gov. John Ashcroft is still being considered by the legislature. If lawmakers act before mid-February, highway officials contend that they will be able to take full advantage of the 1992 construction season and generate 7,800 new jobs this year.

Over the life of the plan, highway officials claim it will save 6,700 lives from accidents and create 40,000 additional jobs.

Projects on the list would result in connecting all cities with 5,000 population or greater by four-lane highways, replace or rehabilitate 1,386 bridges; improve 3,060 miles of two-lane roads on lettered highways, and double the annual re-surfacing program. Cities and counties would see their share of funding from the state fuel tax increase by 50 percent.

As a bonus, projects funded by the last gas tax increase, passed as Proposition A in 1987, would be completed in half the time of the 15 years previously projected.

McCullough believes the list of projects are overwhelming to many people, but feels once all the facts are studied, the plan will be supported by legislators.

McCullough stressed that just as Proposition A did not result in major staff increases for the highway department, approval of this new program will also not trigger massive hiring.

If the gas tax increase is approved, McCullough said he anticipates more outside consultants will be used for design, rather than by increasing staff.

The highway department crews do what is referred to as "remedial maintenance" and all major rebuilding and new construction is contracted.

Among the projects that would be funded by an increase in the fuel tax would be the upgrading and relocation of Highway 25 from Jackson to Malden; 34 from Jackson to Van Buren; and 72 from Jackson to Fredericktown. Initially, the roads would be improved two-lane, however, enough right of way would be acquired so they could be made four-lane when traffic justifies it in the future.

Funds would also be available for extending Nash Road into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority; constructing an interchange off I-55 at Oak Ridge; improving the interchanges at Scott City and Nash Road off I-55; and constructing an outer road from Scott City to Nash Road.

As part of the Highway 72 project, it would eventually tie in with the new Mississippi River bridge route at Cape Girardeau.

"When you look at the plan, think about the Cape-Jackson area and what will be converging at the interstate here," said McCullough. "There will be the three major routes as well as the bridge route. It can't do anything but help the area."

Several other major projects, being funded with Proposition A money, are moving along in this area.

The department is in the process of acquiring right of way for the relocated Highway 74 that will run to the new Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau. Once Illinois approves funding for its share of the bridge, McCullough said it is possible the bridge could go under contract within a year. Completion will take four to five years, he noted.

The first stage will involve the placing of river piers and placing fill where the I-55 interchange will be constructed.

A new bridge on Highway 25 over the Diversion Channel near Dutchtown should be completed this fall.

Widening Highway 60 to four-lane, from Sikeston to Willow Springs, was given some earmarked funding in the new federal highway bill. "It is not overly optimistic to think that we will be under contract for all of Highway 60 within three years," McCullough observed.

McCullough became district engineer for this area Aug. 1, moving here from St. Louis County.

District 10 covers 14 counties and is the largest of the 10 districts in road miles. The district has 198 miles of interstate; 742 miles of primary roads; and 2,918 miles of secondary roads.

In the district, Stoddard County has the most miles of major state roads with 161, and Perry County has the fewest with 50. Cape Girardeau County has 140 miles of state roads.

District 10 has an annual budget of about $20 million, distributed almost evenly between equipment and materials and labor. Service maintenance is the largest item with about $5 million budgeted, there is $1.5 million budgeted for snow removal; and $800,000 allocated for striping highways.

The district has approximately 500 employees, with 300 working in maintenance and another 200 involved in design, overseeing design and construction, and administration.

The district headquarters is in Sikeston, with five area offices scattered around the district for new construction at Jackson, Kennett, Poplar Bluff, Farmington and Sikeston. These offices provide quality control and the inspection of contract work.

The district is also divided into 12 maintenance areas, which has staff and equipment assigned to it.

McCullough said even though he has been in the district a short time, he has been pleased with the response from people and the strong support shown by groups in Southeast Missouri for improving highways.

The many projects that would be constructed over the next 15 years if a 6-cent gas tax increase is approved, is evidence of that strong effort, he believes.

"I can see some of the groundwork laid by many of the groups over the years are productive," said McCullough. "They are bringing these needs forward and I think they have a tremendous feeling of success seeing the fruits of their efforts just around the corner."