JACKSON - With state and federal approval secured, the Cape Girardeau County Commission is now seeking bids for the replacement of a 200-foot bridge across the Diversion Channel.

Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander, who oversees roads and bridges for the commission, said Tuesday the bridge will be the largest one ever replaced by Cape County.

Seventy percent of the cost will come from federal highway funds that are available to cities and counties.

The bridge, located on County Road 253 between Whitewater and Delta, will replace a span that has been in need of replacement for several years.

Sander noted that there had been plenty of delays in getting the project started, but now it appears construction will be under way by August.

The commission began advertising for bids this week and will open them at 10:30 a.m. on June 25. The bridge will cost more than $400,000.

"This is the largest and most expensive bridge the county has ever replaced," said Sander. "We have been working on this one for seven years."

Since federal off-systems highway money is involved, all plans for the bridge have to be approved by state and federal highway offices. In addition, bridges that have federal funding must also meet stricter specifications than those funded solely with county money.

Sander said the delays have been for a variety of reasons, including securing federal funding and then getting plans approved. One set of plans that were about to be approved was returned to the county for revision because of new federal guidelines on bridge piers, enacted to take into account earthquake preparedness.

Since plans have to be approved in both Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., Sander said the process got bogged down.

Right of way acquisition was another problem because the county had to use condemnation proceedings to acquire the needed property.

"We just kind of went from one thing to another," said Sander. "But we'll be under way before long."

Since the plans have already been approved by state and federal highway officials, Sander said he did not expect any delays in getting approval once bids are opened.

"Work should be under way by around the first of August, and if weather holds, we should be crossing it by the first of December," said Sander.

Another bridge, also being funded with a 70 percent federal match, known as the Caney Fork Bridge between Oak Ridge and Millersville, is well under way.

The bridge will cost approximately $220,000.

Sander said he has plans for two other bridges he is seeking federal off-systems money for, and is hoping to get approval for at least one of them before the end of the year.

On larger bridges, Cape County seeks off-systems road money to pay a share of the cost.

Sander explained that because of the standards that must be used in constructing bridges with federal money, it is only economical to use off-systems money on major bridges.