HOLD UP OF HIGHWAY FUNDS COULD DELAY ROAD PROJECTS

A hold up in the distribution of $63 million in federal highway money to the state could delay several road projects in Southeast Missouri.

Projects that might be delayed include some work on the new Mississippi River bridge route at Cape Girardeau, the extension of Nash Road to the Southeast Missouri Regional Port near Scott City, and the Highway 60 widening project.

The 1991 federal highway bill was designed to create jobs while rebuilding the nation's deteriorating road systems. The $151 billion federal program runs for six years.

"Only about 85 percent of the money is being released," said Freeman McCullah, the district highway engineer for the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department in Sikeston.

For the current federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, the state has received $345 million of the $408 million to which it's entitled. Congress is holding back the remaining $63 million as it wrestles with the budget deficit.

But McCullah said the suspended funds are earmarked for highway projects. "The money is there; it's in a trust fund; it's earmarked," he said. "It can't be spent for anything else."

He said the state's 15-year plan of highway and transportation projects is based on receiving full funding from the trust fund. Without full funding, the state will have to delay the start of some construction work, McCullah said.

"We are not talking about stopping any work we have going," he said. "We are talking about the timely progress of our 15-year plan. If this continues, our 15-year plan could suddenly become a 20-year plan."

Construction is scheduled to begin soon on an Interstate-55 interchange south of Bloomfield Road for the new Mississippi River bridge route. That work won't be held up, McCullah said.

But awarding of a contract for construction of bridges across Cape LaCroix Creek in connection with the same highway project likely will be delayed. A contract on the bridge work was scheduled to be awarded in October, he said.

The same problem exists for the Nash Road extension. Instead of awarding a contract this fall, the project might be put on hold until next year.

"What we hope is that we don't lose the next construction season for that work," said McCullah. The $10-million project involves construction of four miles of road to the Mississippi River port.

Awarding of contracts for widening of sections of Highway 60 west of Dexter also could be delayed, McCullah said.

Delaying the start of construction work also can result in higher costs because of inflation, he said.

Good roads also benefit commerce, and delaying projects suspends transportation savings for businesses and individuals in terms of shipping and travel costs, McCullah said.

"I think our congressional delegation in this area is well aware (of the situation) and is fighting to get that money for us," he said.

But the federal government's continued delay in releasing the highway money worries state highway officials.

"I think the pessimistic attitude comes from the fact that it has continued as long as it has. There has been nothing resolved," said McCullah. "We are getting really concerned because, if it keeps up, it will get dire."