5 years, 2 months ago by Jim Dewey
Governor Mike Parson made announcement Wednesday in Hannibal
Missouri Governor Mike Parson visited Hannibal on Wednesday to introduce a bridge construction effort.
Governor Parson's proposal would accelerate the repair or replacement of 250 highway bridges while freeing up funding for additional transportation projects across the state. He would do that by borrowing 350 million dollars through bonds. Parson said all of the bridges are already on line for repair. They would have a life span of 50 years which the Governor said, "When you're talking about bonding, you want something that has that longevity to it to justify the bonding to the state of Missouri."
Sales of the bonds would free up 350 million for other infrastructure projects around the state. Repayment of the bonds will come from the state's General Revenue. Parson says the "Focus on Bridges" effort was designed like a business proposal. "We've got a $29 billion budget," Parson said, "and probably one of the best things we can do is invest in the future of our state." Parson compared the effort to a business investment, "because you're taking 15 years worth of bonds and doing $350 million worth of projects that are going to last 50 to 75 years."
The Hannibal stop was one of 5 the Governor is making this week to get a close up look at some of the bridges that will be affected by the injection of funding. The bridge over Bear Creek on U S Highway 61 is one of the bridges on the list. The bridge will get a new - wider deck. Parson says the $1.4 million dollar project is typical of the bridges that will be replaced or repaired under the "Focus on Bridges" program. The Missouri Department of Transportation plans to begin construction on that bridge in 2021.
