OLD BRIDGE WOULD OFFER A VIEW OF THE RIVER

Cape Girardeau's mayor says he envisions a section of the old Mississippi River bridge becoming a place for people to go and watch the river and relax.

The mayor, Al Spradling III, said he would like to see a portion of the bridge preserved as a tourist attraction. He said if the city kept the part of the bridge that runs onto the riverbank, it easily could be converted into a river observation point.

"It is more of a tourist attraction," Spradling said. "It will be an opportunity for people to get close up to the river."

Spradling said he envisions the section of the bridge becoming a place for pedestrians only to visit. He said it would be lighted.

There are no definite plans, but the mayor said he would like to talk to the Missouri Department of Transportation to see what options are available.

Brett Nelson, public affairs specialist for MoDOT, said the state has sold bridges to individuals in the past and selling a portion of a bridge can be done. But he said considering safety issues of leaving a section of the bridge, the agency would have difficulty sanctioning the idea.

"They would not want to jeopardize people's lives by some chance of injury," Nelson said.

Nelson said leaving a section of the bridge for pedestrian use could lead to suicide attempts, which has happened on the bridge.

"That comes to mind right of way," Nelson said. "We have to keep instances like that from occurring."

Councilman Richard Eggimann said the idea merits exploration despite the safety concerns. "It would be wonderful to have a little area where people could get closer to the river," he said.

Eggimann said the city should look into how to make the area safe and if it can be done economically. He said he has been told by several people that preserving part of the bridge would be a good idea.

But not everyone is sold on the plan. Lynette Shirrell, a real-estate agent with Century 21 Key agency, lives by the bridge and would have to deal with the traffic and intrusion that comes with tourist attractions.

But it is not just the tourism that bothers her. She said the bridge presents environmental hazards that would be best addressed if the bridge was completely removed.

"I am unhappy about it," she said. "It is covered with lead-based paint. It would be costly to take it off. It would pollute the river more than it already is, and it would take away from our privacy."