STATE AWARDS BRIDGE WORK

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has awarded contracts for a bridge replacement on Route A over Castor River in Marquand and for strengthening of a bridge on Route OO over Whitewater River seven miles west of Gordonville.

Freeman McCullah, the highway department's southeast district engineer, said the contract for the Route A work, in the amount of almost $1.18 million, went to Robertson Contractors Inc. of Poplar Bluff. The improvement includes four-tenths of a mile of grading and surfacing. The project is scheduled for completion next year.

The Route OO work is being done by Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson at a cost of $48,435. The project involves strengthening the bridge to accommodate two-way traffic. The project will take up to 30 days.