THERE'S TIME TO WORK ON THE BRIDGE PLAN

The only bid for repairs to the old Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau came in too high, and the Missouri Department of Transportation has decided to seek new bids. This is the project that would have closed the bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday for about three weeks.

While the highway department wasn't too happy with the sole bid it received for the project, the high bid was good news for a good many folks whose lives would have been affected by the nightly bridge closing that were to start July 25. It looks like they will have a month's reprieve, depending on the new bids for the bridge repairs.

Although most of area residents wouldn't be seriously affected one way or another by the nightly bridge closings during the repair project, several hundred would be affected. For them, it was a matter of not being able to get to work, not being able to deliver goods and services or not being able to get customers who travel from one side of the river to another.

Somewhere along the line, the highway department indicated a willingness to try to work out its total closing plan for the repair project. Suggestions were made for leaving short periods of time throughout the night when motorists could cross. But there were mixed signals on whether or not anything could be worked out at all, even though the affected individuals, businesses and industries were never told about a final decision.

The plain fact is that there may not be a solution to this thorny problem. To get the bridge repairs done as quickly as possible with the least inconvenience to the most people, it might well be necessary to close the bridge at night. Period.

But with the rebidding process comes a little time. Surely this extra month or so could be put to good use by exploring every possible alternative to not allowing traffic to use the bridge at night, except on weekends.

Anything that could be worked out to accommodate those who are affected the most would be greatly appreciated. And if there isn't a good solution, then motorists need to know a final decision has been made so they can plan accordingly.