HANNIBAL - As part of MoDOT's environmental study for a new Route 47 Missouri River bridge at Washington, archaeologists, historic preservationists and other environmental specialists will conduct field work over the next couple of weeks. "These specialists may be seen excavating for artifacts and studying buildings on both the Warren and Franklin County sides of the river to help determine the potential impacts associated with alternative locations for a replacement bridge," said Bob Reeder, MoDOT historic preservation manager. "Our team will be both up river and down river from the existing bridge," he added.

The study area reaches from just north of Augusta Bottom Road in Warren County south to First Street in Washington. "We are notifying property owners of the need to perform this work, which should minimally impact their property," Reeder said. Work should be confined to within about 200 feet of the existing roadway on the north side of the river and within about 150 feet on the south side.

"We want to let people know that just because you see these folks working in a specific area that doesn't mean that area will definitely be impacted," said Rick Domzalski, MoDOT project manager for the Route 47 Bridge Environmental Impact Statement. "We need to investigate all of these areas so that we can do a fair comparison of the impacts for each alternative location," Domzalski added.

The field work is expected to be finished by the end of June. The full environmental study is scheduled for completion by September of 2011.

For more information please contact MoDOT's customer service center toll free at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (1-888-275-6636) or you may visit the project website at http://www.modot.mo.gov/northeast/Route47BridgeatWashington.htm.