STATE SEEKS MORE FEDERAL MONEY FOR BRIDGE PROJECT

Additional sources of federal funding for the planned Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau are still being sought, according to the head of the Missouri Highway Commission. However, he is confident that obstacle will be cleared without forcing the project to be delayed.

"We're still not there, folks, but we're still working very hard with the Federal Highway Commission," said Tom M. Boland of Hannibal. Boland is chairman of the Missouri Highway Commission.

Boland made his comments Thursday night before an audience of about 150 at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's annual Highway Dinner. The event was attended by chamber members, government officials and representatives of the Highway Commission and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department.

Phase one of construction on the Cape Girardeau bridge project is scheduled to begin May 1, 1996.

"We are going to do everything we can to have funding in place and proceed as scheduled," Boland said.

What Missouri highway officials, along with their counterparts in Illinois, are trying to find is additional federal funds beyond those already allocated each year to the two states. That way the bridge project can proceed without impacting other projects around the state.

Financing is needed for new Mississippi River bridges at both Cape Girardeau and Hannibal.

Boland encouraged chamber members to contact their representatives in Congress and urge them to continue supporting the projects.

Also discussed was the state's 15-year highway plan.

"I think all of you know we've had a little glitch in our 15-year plan," Boland said.

Funding for the long-term proposal turned out to be less than projected and some have called it "underfunded or overpromised," Boland said.

He defended the program as still viable and said the commission will urge state legislators to approve a bond issue to help put the plan back on track.

The commission proposes a short-term action plan composed of priority projects which it hopes to get under contract by the end of 1998. The plan will cost $2.6 billion, but only $2.1 billion in state and federal funds is currently available.

The bond issue would raise the remaining $500 million. Boland said this plan will allow the state to catch up which its original goals.

Following Boland's speech, the chamber presented John Oliver of Cape Girardeau with a plaque for his work on the Missouri Highway Commission. Oliver's six-year term on the commission expired Oct. 1, but he is still serving pending appointment of a replacement by the governor.