Planning should be joint effort

To the editor:I read an article in the Jan. 26 Southeast Missourian regarding a perceived rivalry between Cape Girardeau and Sikeston over the proposed path of a highway linking Kentucky to Southeast Missouri. I feel the article was attempting to pit the leaders of Cape Girardeau against those of Sikeston and other Bootheel communities. In my opinion, this is not the best approach for the citizens of Southeast Missouri.

We accomplish nothing by pitting one project against the other. If we take that approach, we all suffer, and nothing will be accomplished. Southeast Missouri is better served if we have several routes across the river. This increases economic trade and commerce with all states to the east. We need to work together, not individually as the city of Cape Girardeau or the city of Sikeston, but rather as a region in a combined effort to develop its full potential. I strongly feel we need to look outside our city limits and state lines and across the Mississippi River.

One last point: The recent effort for a new bridge in Mississippi County is related to the age and condition of the bridge at Cairo. It was built in 1929, around the same year as the old bridge at Cape Girardeau was construction and later replaced by the great Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

MIKE MARSHALL, Mayor, Sikeston, Mo.