A regional group wants Missouri to shift funding so that money is available to build a Hannibal expressway bypass.

To do so, it recommends that the state pick up the cost of a new bridge at Louisiana.

The Tri-State Development Summit made the proposal in an e-mail issued Friday.

It says 12-and-a-half million dollars could be freed up for the bypass and other projects in Northeast Missouri if the state would assume the cost of the bridge.

While the group admits that a new Louisiana bridge is of long-range importance, it goes on to say that it will do little to create new economic development.

Pike County Presiding Commissioner Dan Miller called the new bridge a necessity and urged    summit officials to look at all regional priorities equally.

The state has put a new Louisiana bridge on its list of priority funding projects if voters approve a statewide sales tax increase on August 5th.