Bill to re-shape St. Louis transportation

Intro: Legislators are discussing a bill that would making driving across the river to St. Louis a little easier.

Lauren Stenzel has more from Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC A House Transportation Committee heard a bill on Wednesday that would allow state property to be used to build a new bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Louis. There is only one interstate bridge over the river, and Republican Representative Bob Dixon said that isn't enough.

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Description: The eight lane Popular Street Bridge is severely overburdened, it's 40-year-old design is now sub-standard. That bridge handles most of the traffic from Illinois into the city, and experiences approximately 90 minutes of rush hour congestion a day for an average delay of about ten minutes.

Dixon said the new bridge would reduce travel time and congestion, and enhance economic growth.

The total estimated cost of the bridge is 640 million dollars and would take between 4 to 6 years to complete.

Reporting form the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Stenzel.

Intro: Rush hour in St. Louis is expected to get worse and one Missouri Representative is looking to decrease traffic by improving road conditions.

Lauren Stenzel has more from Jefferson City.

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Republican Representative Bob Dixon is sponsoring a bill that would improve traffic conditions in St. Louis by adding another interstate bridge over the Mississippi River.

Dixon explained to the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee what will happen in the future if another bridge isn't built.

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Description: By 2030 the rush hour congestion is expected to double, and the average delay will increase to 55 minutes.

Dixon said the new four-lane bridge would be one mile North of the Martin Luther King Bridge.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the new bridge would reduce traffic by an estimated 20 percent.

From the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Stenzel.

Intro: Plans for a new bridge in St. Louis will force the state to hand over it's property.

Lauren Stenzel has more in Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC

A house bill that would allow for a new bridge over the Mississippi River requires the state to transfer property in order to facilitate it.

One particular piece of property that would be necessary for construction is home to a facility for people on parole.

Bill Sponsor, Republican Representative Bob Dixon said the property is necessary to build the bridge.

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Description: The state currently owns it, it's being used as a minimum security facility for department of corrections, so it would be a land conveyance from the department to MHTC.

Representative Dixon said that the creation of the bridge would not interfere with the already existing building - only the surrounding land.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Stenzel.