By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – More analysis for the long-anticipated Mississippi River bridge was approved by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments board of directors Wednesday.
After 16 years of study and planning, Missouri and Illinois are at an impasse over how to pay for the bridge.
With a price tag now over $1 billion, Missouri officials have pushed for tolls on the bridge, while Illinois officials oppose that idea.
St. Louis Mayor Slay says he hopes a neutral study will break the stalemate, but he stresses that it's up to the states to come together.
"I-DOT and Mo-DOT are going to have to agree on a financing method and I'm supporting this study and hopeful it'll move everything forward, but it's ultimately up to them to find a way to get this thing financed," Slay said.
The study is expected by the end of January.
Members of the Council's board of directors also voted for a resolution asking the governors of both states to work together.