The full Senate gets a chance, Wednesday, to take up and pass HB 2 , a bill that would clear the way for a proposal to replace or repair 802 of Missouri’s worst bridges.

The Senate Transportation Committee met earlier this week, voting 7-1 to send the bill to the full Senate, with only Senator Joan Bray (D-St. Louis) voting against the idea. Bray is concerned with the Missouri State Transportation Department’s plan to embrace what amounts to a 30-year payment plan to ensure the contractor submitting the winning bid gets paid. She says MoDOT has not been forthcoming with its total cost estimates.

MoDOT officials estimate the project will run between $400-Million and $600-Million. But, with the bidding process still ongoing, it doesn’t want to get too specific. Bray is not only concerned about the initial amount stated in the winning bid, but in the financing costs that would have to be paid over a quarter century once the main work is completed in five years from the awarding of the contract.

The House approved the legislation last week. Senate approval will send it to the Governor.