Don't forget other goals for community

By any measure, this week's "Bridge Summit," hosted by the city of Sikeston, was a rousing success. With civic, business and political leaders from Missouri and Kentucky, the summit brought together over 140 concerned officials who are seeking a new bridge over the Mississippi River to replace the current 1929-era bridge. The current bridge has the lowest sufficiency rating of any bridge spanning the Mississippi.

You will find not one argument that a new bridge is unwarranted. You will find ample discussion however on just how to pay for a new bridge and the exact details on its location.

The reality in my mind is that obviously someday a new bridge will replace the current aged structure. On that point there is no disagreement. But how and when and where remain the same points of discussion that have existed since the very first talks on the project.

Kentucky must first commit to building an interstate-grade highway to connect to the new bridge. Missouri then must be willing to build the roadway to connect from our side of the river. And finally, the federal government must find a way to fund the massive cost of the new bridge. Given time, all of those elements will come together. Thus, the issue is time and money. Sound familiar?

No one can fault Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson on this project. Her office has consistently supported the new bridge and has already obtained a substantial amount of funds to study the project. That process is probably five years in the making.

Those who seem to know believe it could be 20 years before this dream becomes a reality. It's hard to argue with that time estimate. In the meantime, Missouri Department of Transportation officials say without hesitation that the existing bridge is safe. That obviously is the primary concern.

Here's my one caution to Sikeston leaders as well as community leaders along the proposed corridor leading to and from the bridge. Though the bridge will eventually provide an added source of commerce for our communities, we must remain vigilant to assure that in the meantime our communities grow and prosper. If we somehow want to wait for a new bridge to open our community, we must assure that the community remains strong and vibrant until that fateful day arrives.

If we take our eyes off the ball and play the waiting game, we'll have less resources to attract those potential visitors who cross this new bridge into our area. If over the next 20 years we wither and decline, what would we have to offer business, industry or tourists?

Every community faces short-term and long-term issues. The bridge is definitely a long-term project. But we all know the short-term issues we face and we must not forget to address those issues each and every day. The focus on a new bridge gives us added hope for the future. But we must address today's problems today. That priority will never change.