PENALTY SHOTS: The Land of Strange Questions

The Chester Bridge is back in the news again, as the 75-year-old icon of World War II-era workmanship and construction technique is finally on the path toward replacement.

For those not in the know, or who did not read last week's edition, the Missouri Department of Transportation was given authorization by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to execute its environmental study agreement with engineering firm CH2M.

And thus, a two-year-long, fact-finding process has begun on a project that may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us.

Speaking on my own experiences in following this story, MoDOT has been very transparent on the issue and willing to answer questions, including some of the more unique ones I'll get to in a moment. After all, this project is for public benefit and the roughly 6,400 vehicles that traverse the bridge daily.

Projects of this scope are fun to think about because of the "what if" question. The environmental study will eventually present MoDOT with what's been called the "preferred alternative" on the new bridge's location.

Before things get wild and crazy, consider the possibility that the "preferred alternative" could be as little as 50 feet in either direction from the current bridge site.

During conversations with members of the community, there's been some interesting quandaries. Everything from how potential bridge construction could affect visitors for the total solar eclipse in 2024, to what happens if CH2M encounters artifacts during its study of the Mississippi River riverbed.

The latter question is in reference to the Flood of 1881, when the river shifted eastward and carved out a new channel by overtaking the lower 10 miles of the Kaskaskia River.

In the process, the river destroyed much of the town of Kaskaskia and separated what remained from the rest of Illinois.

Another question pertained to the executive order President Donald Trump signed on Jan. 24 to expedite environmental reviews and approvals for high-priority infrastructure projects.

As of mid-February, MoDOT still did not know how or if the executive order would affect the bridge project as the agency had not gotten any guidance from the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Other questions I've heard included whether the new bridge would be four lanes, if there would be a pedestrian lane and if it would be similar to the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge in Cape Girardeau.

The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge replaced the original Cape Girardeau Bridge, which was 76 years old at the time of its demolition in 2004. According to MoDOT, the federal government footed 80 percent of the cost of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, while Missouri and Illinois each contributed 10 percent of the $100 million price tag.

So for now, we watch and wait. Public outreach and communications are expected to begin in the next few months, meaning citizens will hopefully have a chance to weigh in on the project.

And a new bridge is badly needed. Wide loads require a police escort when they cross and that is law enforcement resources that may be better applied elsewhere.

There are also tales of falling concrete and near-miss traffic accidents due to the narrow lanes.

However, nobody's talking dollars yet and that time will come. But the powers that be are beginning the process toward a new bridge - at least that's something.