MoDOT approves early engineering work for bridge repair project

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State transportation officials have given approval for a potential contractor to begin the engineering work on a massive repair project for 802 bridges.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission still has not awarded a contract for the project. Negotiations continue with a group identified as the preferred contracting team last December.

To speed things up, the commission voted Friday to allow the potential contractor to begin taking measurements and conduct early engineering work.

Department spokesman Jeff Briggs said state officials are optimistic the contract will be finalized in the near future.

If it falls through, he said, the state still would receive the engineering plans drafted by the potential contractor.