Louisiana’s mayor calls replacing the 87-year-old Champ Clark Bridge vital to regional growth.

Bart Niedner made the remarks in an address to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in Jefferson City. He said a permanent closure of the bridge before a new one is built would disrupt the economic and social fabric of the area.

Pre-construction work has begun, but Missouri does not have the money to pay its share of the 45 million to 60 million dollar cost.

However, one engineer said recently that there still is room for priority projects such as the Louisiana bridge even in the state’s new maintenance-only plan.

Many consider the 20-foot span outdated. It was the scene of a deadly 2011 accident that claimed the life of a Stark Brothers Nurseries executive.

One member of the commission said Niedner’s concerns point to the seriousness of Missouri’s transportation funding problem.