LIGHTS OK'd FOR NEW BRIDGE

The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge will be lighted when it opens early in the next century.

Installation of aesthetic lighting on the Cape Girardeau Mississippi River bridge will be included in the final bid for the bridge, which will also include the final decking.

Randy Hitt, area engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, announced Wednesday that the commission had approved the application for Transportation Enhancement Funds requested by the Beautification Committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce through the city of Cape Girardeau.

The Federal Highway Administration will provide $310,810 for the lighting project. Total cost is $432,880, leaving a balance of $122,070, which will be provide by the local chamber's Beautification Committee.

The committee, said John Layton, a member, will raise the funds in contributions from local businesses and private interests.

"We have about two years to raise the matching funds," said Layton.,

A number of city, chamber and Missouri Department of Transportation officials were on hand for Hitt's announcement during a media conference at the chamber office.

Also on hand were Lloyd Smith of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's office and Marie Hahn, mother of the late U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, for whom the bridge is named. Jo Ann Emerson is his widow.

"We're pleased that the lights will be on the bridge when it opens," said Hitt. "The aesthetic lighting will provide an impressive sight."

"There will be a total of 140 lights," said Hitt. "Thirty-two of them will be on the towers of the bridge, with 108 on cables leading up to the tower."

The lights, said Hitt, shine up and pose no navigation problems.

The nearest bridge with the aesthetic lighting is at Alton, Ill. The lights were placed on the Alton bridge after it opened.

Lighting for the Cape Girardeau bridge was not included in the original plans. Layton and Dr. Nelson Ringer started discussing the possibility soon afterwards.

The chamber, not eligible for funds under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, approached the city with the idea. The City Council agreed to sponsor the federal grant application and passed a resolution to apply for the grant. It will pay up to 80 percent of the costs, with the chamber providing the rest.

The lights, said Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III, will make the bridge a showcase.

"This is another great day for Cape Girardeau," said Spradling following the announcement. "It demonstrates the efforts by a lot of people. We're looking forward to the completion of the bridge."

Jo Ann Emerson wasn't present for the announcement but issued a statement.

"This will be an outstanding addition to the new bridge," she said. "It will make the structure unique and beautiful as well as a functional transportation artery for the folks of southern Missouri and Illinois."

Emerson applauded the efforts of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Department of Transportation and city for their work and dedication to the lighting project.

Construction of the four-lane bridge started in 1996. The $78 million project is expected to be completed by January 2001.

Hitt said construction was "a little behind" following high water and weather conditions, but they are among factors built into the completion schedule. "The January 2001 completion date is still a realistic one," said Hitt.