WASHINGTON -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08), U.S. Senator Kit Bond, and U.S. Senator Jim Talent will celebrate the dedication of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge this Saturday, December 13, at a formal ceremony at the beginning of the bridge.  Emerson was married to the late U.S. Representative Bill Emerson, who represented Southern Missouri’s 8th Congressional District in Congress from 1980 to 1996.

 

“I’m both proud and humbled to be a part of this event,” Emerson said.  “The fact that the bridge is named after Bill is a wonderful tribute to him, his vision for Southern Missouri, and his years of hard work in Congress.  The entire Emerson family looks upon this as a great honor.  We are especially grateful to Sen. Kit Bond, for his efforts in Congress to name the bridge after my late husband.”

 
“We will remember this occasion not only for the pomp and ceremony, but for the man who built many bridges in his lifetime – Congressman Bill Emerson," said Bond.  "As we celebrate the completion and dedication of this magnificent structure – one that will serve future generations daily from Missouri and Illinois, like the statesman for whom it is named – we can be very proud that the values of our heritage live on through the memory of Congressman Bill Emerson."

 

"The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is an appropriate tribute to a great man," said Talent.  "Bill Emerson lived by his principles.  He was faithful to his belief in service and his constituents and he finished the race.  Now, in his honor, we commemorate the completion of a project that he made possible, and one that represents both his service to the area and his uncommon ability to bring people of both parties together to get things done."

 

The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge contains 13 million pounds of reinforcing steel, nearly 244 million pounds of concrete, and 171 miles of cable.  The 4,000-foot-long structure will carry 14,000 cars each day.

 

“This structure contains more than raw materials – it is made of the blood, sweat, and tears of those who planned, designed and constructed the bridge.  All of the hard work poured into this project by laborers and lawmakers alike has paid off in a beautiful bridge for Southern Missouri.  It will carry Missouri’s agricultural and manufacturing products to the world, and it will carry the products of the world back home to Southern Missouri.  I couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities for our future economic growth and status. 

 

“Transportation projects are too few and far between for rural America, so this is a major victory for our entire region.” Emerson said.  “I would like to thank everyone at the Missouri Department of Transportation for their work on this bridge, especially employees Scott Meyer, district engineer, and Stan Johnson, project manager; Highway Commission; the late Paul Ebaugh; and John Oliver.”

 

Dedication ceremonies will begin at 9:00 a.m. CST at the beginning of the new Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau.

 

For more information about bridge dedication events, please visit www.modot.state.mo.us or call the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce at 573-335-3312 or the Emerson office in Cape Girardeau at 573-335-0101.

 

-30-