NEW APPROACH TAKEN TO FUNDING FOR BRIDGE

Four members of Congress in Missouri and Illinois have taken a new approach toward funding of replacement bridges crossing the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau and Hannibal.

The end result could be that a long stalemate between highway officials in the two states over the source of funding for the projects will end, clearing the way for construction to begin on schedule.

"We feel confident that we are on the right course, given the attitude of Illinois on funding of bridges," said Lloyd Smith, chief of staff to 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson. "Nothing is guaranteed, but we are in the running."

Emerson has teamed up with U.S. Reps. Harold Volkmer, who represents Hannibal, and David Durbin and Jerry Costello, who represent the Illinois side of the river, to seek funding for the bridges as an "authorized project" in the National Highway System authorization legislation.

Smith explained that the state of Illinois has never built a bridge across the Mississippi River where they have used state highway funds. The Illinois Department of Transportation has maintained the position that such bridges should be primarily built with federal highway funds.

But under the new highway bill, there is not much federal money available for building bridges.

Missouri has already set aside state funding in its 5-, 10- and 15-year highway plans for approach work and construction of the bridges, but Illinois has declined to commit state funds.

John Oliver of Cape Girardeau, a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, has warned for some time that unless Illinois comes up with its share of the money soon, the progress being made in Missouri would eventually be delayed.

"This is the only way we have to go, given the Illinois Department of Transportation's recalcitrant, non-cooperative and provincial attitude. We don't have a choice," said Oliver.

"The deal is, Illinois still insists you have to build bridges with discretionary bridge funds, when there aren't any. The rules of the game have changed and the IDOT still wants to play in the last century.

"Fortunately for Southern Illinois, their senators and representatives are much more forward looking than IDOT."

Oliver explained that Congressman Nick Rahall II, chairman of the surface transportation subcommittee of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, has said he would be willing to include some demonstration projects in the next authorization bill.

Both Oliver and Smith believe that the river bridges meet the criteria for such projects because of the economic impacts the new bridges will have on the region.

Said Oliver: "Congressman Rahall seems to have given some indication that they will be amenable to some limited number of projects being authorized and funded as part of the approval process of the national highway system. Congressmen Emerson, Volkmer, Costello, Durbin, and (Glenn) Poshard (D-Ill.) have all come together and will make a pretty strong pitch that these two bridges qualify under the criteria they have established to be demonstration projects."

Smith maintained that the approach being tried now "is the instrument we have" to insure the new bridge at Cape Girardeau moves forward.

"We are trying to be as accommodating as possible. It is not the course we would have chosen but we are on it because we need these bridges built across the river and there seems to be no other way," Smith said.

Emerson is a member of the surface transportation subcommittee, which will conduct six hearings between Feb. 24 and March 15 on the National Highway System.

Oliver said the authorization bill is a high priority of the subcommittee and believes the bill will move quickly through the House, if excessive amendments are kept off.

"Right now our request is in the hands of the subcommittee's staff to evaluate the investment value of these projects," said Oliver. "I assume it will get some ranking of priority."

One key to getting the bill moved quickly and the bridges authorized as part of the National Highway System is House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, Oliver says.

"The people of southeast and northeast Missouri are dependent upon the good will of Congressman Gephardt. We would certainly hope that in view of his experience in his new district he will lend the strength of his good office to these two bridges," said Oliver.

In the letters by Emerson and other area members of Congress seeking the authorization of the bridges, both economic and safety factors are stressed.

The project is estimated to cost $85.66 million, with the bridge structure itself costing $69.2 million. Emerson is specifically requesting that "demonstration funds be authorized in the amount of $55,360,000 to cover the 80 percent federal share of the bridge. This project is vitally important to the regional economy, and I urge your consideration of this matter as the subcommittee considers this important piece of transportation legislation."

In his letters, Emerson points out that Southern Missouri and Southern Illinois is beginning to realize their potential. "Thriving ports along the Mississippi, rail access, new and improved four-lane highways, and bigger and safer bridges have improved our economy and allowed expanded commercial activity throughout the region," Emerson wrote.

The congressman pointed out that the bridge is "a commuter's nightmare" and its congestion and narrow two-lane construction delays emergency vehicles.

Wrote Emerson: "The speed limit is severely restricted to 15 miles per hour for certain vehicles, and recent underwater inspections have revealed serious undermining of some of the piers, probably due to this year's flooding. The bridge is structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The extremely narrow bridge fails to adequately insure motorist safety and fails to provide the modern transportation route needed to serve today's needs and enhance the region's economic development."

Another concern raised in the letters is that the bridge lies near the New Madrid earthquake fault line and is not designed to withstand a quake of any significant magnitude. Emerson pointed out that a new bridge, built to seismic standards, would provide an important evacuation route for the entire region.

In the joint letter that also referred to the bridge at Hannibal, many of the same concerns were expressed on the economic impact of the bridge and safety. As a result of the flooding last summer, the bridge was closed for three months, forcing people to drive more than 100 miles in either direction to cross the river.

A strong commitment from cities on both side of the river was stressed in both letters. As an example of local commitment to the new bridge at Cape, Emerson pointed out that the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department has already committed $18.5 million in regularly appropriated federal money and state matching money to construct a roadway approach to the new bridge, linking it with I-55.

Right of way is being acquired for the 3.2 mile connecting road, and construction is underway on a new exchange at the interstate. The four-lane connecting route will have controlled access to the bridge.