(LOUISIANA)--Crowds got a chance Thursday to review plans for a new Mississippi River crossing at Louisiana.

A replacement for the 85-year-old Champ Clark Bridge will be two lanes and will be chosen next year from several options. Part of an environmental study will be finished by June, and the Missouri Department of Transportation now plans to study the most reasonable bridge route.

In the meantime, residents are getting a chance to help design the Missouri approach for the new span, which will change the existing intersection of Highways 54 and 79. One big difference in the plans calls for no stop sign for vehicles entering Missouri.

The easiest options for the new bridge would be to build 50 feet north or 50 feet south of the existing structure.

Either route would allow the existing bridge to remain open during construction, minimize right of way purchases and have the least impact on homes and businesses.

Routes a little farther to the north or south would improve the roadway alignment to avoid flooding on the Illinois side, but also force more people to move from their homes or businesses.

You can see all of the maps and information by logging on to www.modot/northeast and clicking on the link to the bridge page.

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