Brighter future will require work for now

Give Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall and State Rep. Ellen Brandom credit for bringing much needed attention to the issue of a new bridge over the Mississippi River to replace the aging bridge that spans between Illinois and Missouri. These two elected officials and civil leaders joined state officials this week in touring the bridge in question with the hope of generating support for a new bridge.

But residents here and all along the proposed corridor must realize that the process to construct a new bridge is both lengthy and costly. Cost estimates run into the hundreds of millions of dollars and some estimates say it could be 20 years before this dream could become a reality. Both of these estimates may be on the high side but the point is that the process to replace a bridge is no easy task. It will be long into the future before the seeds planted today bear fruit.

The tone of those who toured the bridge was generally supportive. Yes, there always remains that central question of cost. And when you start throwing around large numbers, support remains strong but the financial issues overshadow the needs. Local officials here have altered their support for the new bridge from an economic impact issue into one of safety. And they are right in making that point crystal clear with these state officials. Everyone wants projects that might generate jobs. But safety issues trump the economic needs and they well should.

I want to repeat a point here that I have voiced publicly and privately for quite some time. And that is this: A new bridge could have the potential of greatly improving our prospects for growth and development. It could easily mean substantially more vehicles would be funneled into our region and that should translate into jobs and economic stability.

But - and this is a big but - if in fact it could take 20 years to construct a new bridge, we have other issues locally that should take a much higher priority in the meantime. And keep in mind that the bridge timeframe still is based on capturing the massive funds needed to make this a reality. While that effort may well occupy the background over the next decade or so, we must always focus on the day-to-day issues of crime, housing, jobs, education and providing an atmosphere for quality medical services in this region. Those components are essential regardless of the status of a proposed bridge.

If you're going to dream, then dream big. And no one disputes that a new bridge in our region is a big dream. If these local officials hope a bridge becomes their legacy they are doing the hard and essential work right now to pave the way for the next generation to realize this dream. But first we must assure that the next generation has a community that will attract that added traffic that a new bridge could bring. We must assure we have a safe and attractive community, that we have a progressive community with available jobs, that we have a top-notch education and medical community to provide essential services to those future residents. You can add to that list.

Civic leaders here have worked tirelessly in recent years to reverse a tarnished reputation in our community. We have not completed that task but there's light at the end of the tunnel. Those efforts must be continued or be increased.

I argue that without vigilant commitment on the part of local leaders, our community cannot wait 20 years and expect this new bridge to solve our problems. It won't and it can't. But that should not and will not diminish our efforts to achieve that noble goal.

We must redouble our efforts to improve that which we have and to expand on those areas of progress and growth. And then - someday in the future - we will be poised to take advantage of what will surely be a new day for our region in terms of transportation access, safety and ease of doing business for current and future employers.

The key to our future is jobs. A bridge will make that task so much easier. But a more pressing part of that game plan is to assure the community 20 years into the future is ready to accept this new challenge.