HIGHWAY CHIEF VIEWS BENEFITS FOR THIS REGION

Wayne Muri, chief engineer of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department, told a Cape Girardeau audience Wednesday night that new state transportation plans will benefit Southeast Missouri.

Muri was the guest speaker at Wednesday's Chamber of Commerce Highway Dinner. About 140 people attended the event, which was held at the Drury Lodge.

He said a new Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau, and a new Highway 74 to connect the span to Interstate 55, remains a state priority.

"The bridge is very, very critical to us," Muri said. "We've been already setting that as a priority for several years."

The highway official said nearly one-third of the right of way already has been purchased for the bridge route.

"Another third we have made offers on, and the remaining one-third we're in the process of surveying now," he added.

John Oliver, a Cape Girardeau attorney and member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, said the work on the bridge route is "about one year ahead of schedule."

"Our intent is next year to begin construction of the connection with I-55," said Muri.

But, he added, the bridge can't be built until Illinois commits to funding half the cost which still is being negotiated.

"Illinois and Missouri are seeking additional federal funds and so far that has been unsuccessful," Muri said. "It's absolutely necessary we receive that before we can proceed with that bridge.

"We're not going to give up on the bridge," he added. "We're going to keep on that and build the approach right up to the bridge... like a loaded gun barrel pointed at (Illinois)."

Muri also complained that Congress last year significantly cut into federal appropriations for Missouri transportation. He said Congress "reneged" on a previously approved appropriation, yet authorized the state to spend only 80 percent of the reduced level, and then appropriated only 15 percent in the first installment instead of the expected 35 percent.

Oliver said that unless Congress changes the authorization, Missouri will lose $82 million of the $452 million federal appropriation for the fiscal year.

On a broader scale, Muri said the highway department has completely changed its philosophy to focus on improving the quality of Missouri roads.

"We have absolutely devoted ourselves to quality, quality, quality," he said. "We've locked into this. Everything we do is going to be from the motivation that we're going to get better."

He contrasted highways in this country to those in Europe, where they withstand heavier loads, are smoother, quieter, and skid and "spray" resistant.

But, Muri said, Europeans spend much more money on highways than does the United States. He said the higher investment in roads isn't just a quality issue, but is made for competitive reasons.

"The percent of gross national product that they're investing in roads is 10 times what we are," he added.

But Muri said Americans can learn from the European model by focusing on better quality roads.

He said the state for the first time also has included modes other than highways in its plans for transportation improvements.

Southeast Missouri, with its Mississippi River port in Scott City, will benefit from the added influence on water transportation, Muri said. He also said the department will emphasize development of a state-wide transit system, including light rail.

He also talked about other area projects. In Cape Girardeau, the Nash Road extension from the Southeast Missouri Regional Port to Interstate 55, is included in current, funded highway plans.

Included in the department's 15-year plans are improvements to Highways 34, 72 and 25. Highway 74 will be resurfaced from I-55 west to Route 25 in Dutchtown. Route 25 would then be improved to Kennett.

Route 72 will be improved for 23 miles, beginning at the planned Route 74 interchange with I-55 and continued west and northwest to connect with existing 72 west of Jackson.

The Highway 34 project includes improvements from a relocated 72 west to Bollinger County, where the route will link with a series of improvements to Highway 60 near Van Buren.