THREE CHEERS FOR BRIDGE, TIGERS AND COMMON SENSE: SENATE APPROVAL NEEDED FOR BRIDGE

Funding for a new Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau received a boost this week. The project was included in the National Highway System authorization bill, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The measure includes initial funding of $11.25 million for the bridge.

This designation is crucial because it should break the stalemate with Illinois officials, who have been reluctant to commit their share of the funding. Selection as a demonstration project means the project will not take away from regular federal highway funds allocated to Missouri or Illinois.

We applaud the hard work of state highway officials and Missouri congressmen -- especially Reps. Bill Emerson, Richard Gephardt and Harold Volkmer in Missouri and Reps. Jerry Costello and David Durbin in Southern Illinois.

The 1991 highway bill included less federal money for new bridges. So it took extraordinary effort to earn bridge projects in Cape Girardeau and Hannibal "authorized" status.

Unfortunately, we're not home free yet. The highway bill must still earn Senate approval and the signature of the president. And state Highway Commissioner John Oliver of Cape Girardeau said approval is far from being a sure thing.

Some senators want to remove all demonstration projects. It's also uncertain if the Senate will act on the measure before its adjourns this year. We urge the Senate to do so, since lack of action this year will void the House vote.

We call upon Illinois Sens. Paul Simon and Carol Moseley Braun and Missouri Sens. Christopher "Kit" Bond and John Danforth to take charge of this key measure.

It's been a long road to this point. Missouri simply can't turn back now.