Engineers expect to meet a Friday application deadline on a federal grant that would help pay for replacing the 87-year-old Champ Clark Bridge at Louisiana.

As first reported in April, Missouri and Illinois are jointly seeking a 10 million dollar grant toward construction of the 60 million dollar span.

While Illinois has set aside funding for construction, Missouri doesn’t have its share. However, preliminary work is under way and environmental studies should be done soon. A site just south of the existing structure has tentatively been chosen.

The two states should know by next fall if they’ll get the grant. Missouri has pledged to proceed with design work once funding is in place.