MONEY FOR BRIDGE

The recent announcement that Illinois will commit nearly $14 million over the next five years in discretionary funding for construction of the new Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau was a welcome one indeed. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Department had long been committed to the project, even going so far as to begin construction on two phases of the new route connecting Interstate 55 with the planned bridge. Getting any kind of a firm commitment from Illinois officials, however, had proved an elusive goal for years. Until this month.

What broke the logjam was a determined effort from local, state and federal officials. Former MHTD commissioner John Oliver of Cape Girardeau had long worked for this commitment, working mostly behind the scenes and with our federal representatives in Congress toward this goal. Rep. Bill Emerson and Sen. Kit Bond deserve a large measure of the credit for gaining the appropriation in the federal budget. Final action from the Illinois congressional delegation came mostly from Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, whose district stretches down the Mississippi River all the way to Cairo. From the west bank of the river we salute Rep. Costello for his work on this vital matter.

About $9.7 million will be spent on the bridge and $4 million on approach work along Route 146 from east of East Cape Girardeau to the bridge. The four-lane bridge just south of the existing bridge is expected to cost about $78 million, with 80 percent of the funding coming from the federal government. Total cost of the entire project, including bridge approaches and other related improvements on both sides of the river, is expected to top $133 million. With construction on bridge pilings possibly beginning as soon as this fall, long-awaited progress on this vital transportation link is on the horizon. Congratulations to everyone who played a part in getting us this far.