POSHARD, RYAN BACK I-66 STUDY; ILLINOIS GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES WANT FEASIBILITY STUDY DONE

In the race for governor of Illinois, the I-66 project could be the winner.

Both Republican George Ryan and Democrat Glenn Poshard have voiced support for the suggested interstate project.

Both men want to see a feasibility study done on a proposed interstate through Southern Illinois. They said the project could be an economic boost for Southern Illinois.

Illinois Department of Transportation officials have said the project raises environmental concerns if the route goes through the Shawnee National Forest. But Ryan and Poshard believe the environmental problems could be addressed.

Their support for the highway project is good news to Walt Wildman, the Cape Girardeau man who has lobbied for the project as executive director of I-66 Project Inc.

"It puts us in a pretty good position," he said.

Illinois Transportation Department officials have opposed spending money for a feasibility study. "It was not just no, it was hell no," Wildman said of IDOT's position.

Poshard said Tuesday he has favored the proposed east-west highway for years. Poshard, a five-term Southern Illinois congressman, said he has repeatedly urged IDOT to conduct a feasibility study.

It is up to each state to decide if it wants to do a feasibility study for any proposed interstate route. Congress can't mandate such a study, he said.

Ryan, Illinois secretary of state, voiced support for the project at a GOP rally in Metropolis a few days before winning the Republican primary this month. Wildman attended the rally.

Ryan said that if elected governor he would work to bring the interstate through Southern Illinois.

He said he had talked to IDOT officials about the possibility of proceeding with a feasibility study for a new interstate highway through Southern Illinois.

One suggested route would follow Interstate 24 around Paducah, Ky., and into Southern Illinois. North of Metropolis, the highway would cut west and cross the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau. From there the route would extend westward across southern Missouri.

Ryan spokesman Dave Urbanek said Ryan believes I-66 "would be a huge economic shot to Southern Illinois and surrounding states.

"From our information, the big sticking point is the reluctance of the Department of Transportation to go ahead with the feasibility study," he said.

Urbanek said there are environmental concerns that would have to be addressed in any feasibility study. But he said Ryan believes it would be feasible to construct an interstate through Shawnee National Forest.

"The Shawnee National Forest does not have a fence around it," Urbanek said. "There are other roads that cut through it now. There are communities there now. People live there. It is not impossible."

Poshard suggested the interstate could be routed around the national forest and still cross over the Mississippi River on the four-lane bridge under construction at Cape Girardeau.

"It would certainly be a wonderful economic plus for us," Poshard said.

The highway would generate construction jobs in the short run. In the long run, he said, it could bring new industry and more permanent jobs to Southern Illinois.