CAPE SPAN NOT TOP ON ILLINOIS LIST; OFFICIAL SAYS IT WILL BE FINANCED

The Illinois portion of financing for the Mississippi River bridge project at Cape Girardeau has to fit into a list of transportation priorities, and currently the priorities favor other Missouri-Illinois bridge projects.

"It's a matter of priorities," said Dale Janik, chief of the Illinois Department of Transportation's program planning in Springfield. "We've been talking about the bridge at Cape Girardeau for a number of years, and it has to fit into a theme of priorities.

"But it will be financed," said Janik.

He explained that a multiyear transportation program was published each spring. "Illinois' share of the Cape Girardeau bridge will be financed by securing federal discretionary bridge funding," he said.

Janik pointed to three other major projects involving Missouri and Illinois.

"We're looking at a new bridge between the two states at Alton," said Janik. "Bids have already been let for that project. There's another bridge project at Hannibal, Mo., and we're also looking at a bridge study concerning downtown St. Louis."

Janik said that Wayne Muri, chief engineer of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department, was constantly in contact with Kirk Brown, chief of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"I'm sure that a lot of discussions concern the bridge at Cape Girardeau, along with the other bridge issues that involve the two states," said Janik. "Recommendations are made to the governor each year.

"We'll know more about the funding status of the Cape Girardeau project when the new program is released by Gov. Jim Edgar this spring," said Janik.

The Cape Girardeau project is on the list of recommendations sent to the Illinois governor's office.

"We're working with Illinois on the Cape project," said Frank Carroll, assistant to the chief engineer for design with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department. "We understand that at this time the Cape bridge is lowest on the priority list, but we still have a while before letting a contract."

Carroll said Missouri was still working on right-of-way acquisition and bridge design for the Cape Girardeau bridge and highway project.

"It could be two years before a contract," he said. "Meanwhile, we'll be working to secure a favorable response on the bridge project."