Engineers plan to recommend that a new Mississippi River crossing at Louisiana be built 50 feet to the south of the existing Champ Clark Bridge.

The decision comes as no surprise, but clears the way for more definitive preparation work in advance of construction that has yet to be funded.

The next step, expected to start in September, is environmental approval from agencies in Missouri and Illinois and at the federal level.

The new two-lane bridge will cost more than 44 million dollars. The existing bridge would be used for traffic during construction and dismantled afterward.

Voters will considers a statewide sales tax increase in November that could help pay for construction.