MISSOURI TAKES THE LEAD IN OVERSEEING I-66 STUDY

CAPE GIRARDEAU - When consulting firms are asked this spring to outline their interest in conducting a feasibility study for a proposed east-west interstate highway, they will be given an opportunity to dream.

"We want to try to make this study as broad as possible so as not to throw out any feasible concept at all," explained Lew Hancock, assistant division engineer in the planning division of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department.

"We want to leave it open to the dreamers to tell us what is feasible."

Hancock is involved in the project, known as Interstate 66, because the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department is serving as the administrative agency for a feasibility study.

The study, being coordinated by the Federal Highway Administration, includes $1,275,000 in funds appropriated by Congress with matching funds of about $315,000 provided by states along the corridor.

Representatives of highway departments from states along the proposed route have met twice this year and will meet again next Tuesday in St. Louis to determine how much local money is being provided by each state.

The group will also review what will be included in the letters to consulting firms requesting proposals for the feasibility study.

If the matching funds are committed and all entities can agree on what will be sent to consulting firms, Hancock said it is possible a final decision can be made on hiring a consultant by October.

He anticipates it will take about 15 months to complete the study; the project steering committee is hoping to have a final study no later than January 1993.

He noted that there is no time limit on spending the funds appropriated by Congress for the study, but said getting it done in the first part of the year would give Congress time to react to the study during the 1993 session.

Hancock said nine or 10 states along the corridor have indicated they might contribute funds.

Once consulting firms express an interest, Hancock said the list will be narrowed to several firms that will be asked to prepare a final proposal on their ideas for a study and what the study should include.

"There are not a lot of people living along the corridor and there are some tremendous terrain obstacles that have to be overcome," noted Hancock. "We're not going to be the ones to say we can't do something."

He added that this highway could feature new technology; a special lane just for trucks; limited access to cater to truck traffic; or other features that have been envisioned for highways of the future. Hancock said just about anything could be tried if it is economically feasible.

Steve Forsythe, public affairs assistant for the state highway department, said the Federal Highway Administration is receiving commitments from states for providing their share of the matching funds and will report on pro~gress next week.

States are also being asked what they can contribute in manpower or other special assistance to the study.

"If they determine next week they have the commitment for the money, they will send out solicitations to consultants to see who is interested in doing the study," said Forsythe.

As the administrative agency, Hancock said Missouri will not have any more input than any other state because the steering committee will make all decisions. The Missouri highway department will be responsible for coordinating activities of the steering committee and setting up meetings.

"Missouri originally volunteered for this because we know the grassroots support for I-66 started with a group in Cape Girardeau and this was later pushed by Congressman Bill Emerson," said Hancock. "With that support in Missouri, we felt an obligation to put in our name to become the lead state on this.

"We feel like we have set up the framework for a good, all-inclusive type study that will look at all the options possible," said Hancock. "Next we have to see if this highway is feasible to construct."