'WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE PLAN,' SAYS ENGINEER

Highway projects in Cape Girardeau County, including the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi River, an expansion project for highways 34-72 west of Jackson, and new interchanges on Interstate 55 at Oak Ridge and Fruitland, remain on Missouri's list of transportation projects.

The Missouri Highway Commission Tuesday announced a new five-year plan for highway and bridge projects. The Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan replaces the 15-year plan state officials said was impossible to fund within 15 years.

Scott Meyer, Missouri Department of Transportation District 10 engineer at Sikeston, said the five-year plan is viable.

"We feel very good about the five-year plan," Meyer said. "These are projects we have a good understanding of, and we have a pretty good handle on the costs and the revenue."

The five-year plan is designed to be a rolling plan. In a year, some projects will be completed and move off the plan, and new projects will be added.

"Where will we get the new projects?" Meyer asked. "The 15-year plan will still be the backbone for the program."

"In Southeast Missouri we did very well with the five-year plan," Meyer said, "especially in the first four years."

He credited cooperation with local governments and businesses in the planning of the projects.

"We've been looking ahead and working with the different entities to find projects important to Southeast Missouri," Meyer said. "We were able to make the case for those projects as all the projects statewide were considered."

Meyer said: "This also points out what I've been saying all along. It's important that we build the right projects in the short term. There is only so much money available, and I think the five-year plan approaches the projects most critical for Southeast Missouri."

MoDOT has held public hearings and a variety of meetings on highway improvements and changes locally. Many of these are in planning stages for after 2003.

Discussion continues among local governmental entities and MoDOT for projects including an interchange of Jackson's East Main Street with I-55, a bypass of Highway 74 west of Cape Girardeau and upgrades to Center Junction.

They aren't on the five-year plan but could be added as the plan evolves. "Those discussions are ongoing," Meyer said. "These projects were outside this five-year time frame anyway."

Local projects included

Cape Girardeau County projects included in the new five-year state highway plan:

-- Grade and pave intersection of highways 34 and 72 about 1.6 miles west of Jackson.

-- Replace bridge, widen and resurface Route 34 through Jackson to three or five lanes.

-- Construct interchange for new Interstate 55 exit at Oak Ridge.

-- Build I-55 overpass and widen U.S. 61 to five lanes at Fruitland Grade and widen U.S. 61 to five lanes from Route 177 to I-55. Improve Highway 177 from Route W east to Route J. All involves project of economic development for Procter & Gamble Co.

-- Construct additional turn lanes on northbound off-ramp at I-55 and U.S. 61 at Center Junction.

-- Plant trees on Highway 74 from I-55 to U.S. 61

-- Construct deck and east approach span of new Bill Emerson Memorial Mississippi River Bridge.

-- Build approach roadway from Sprigg Street to the Emerson bridge.

-- Remove existing Mississippi River bridge.

-- Complete cable-stay section of the Emerson bridge.

-- Replace bridge over Little Ramsey Creek at Highway 74 in South Cape Girardeau.