St. Louis Will Get New Mississippi River Bridge
Illinois and Missouri officials agreed to build a $640 million,
four-lane bridge across the Mississippi River that will not require
tolls and will improve traffic, safety and reduce congestion across
the region and spur million of dollars in job creation.
Construction on the cable-stayed bridge is to begin as soon as
2010. It will be funded by a combination of federal and state
funding. Missouri will take the lead on the final design and construction
of the new bridge.
Shown at the announcement are: (from left)
St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, Illinois Governor Rod
R. Blagojevich, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, St. Louis Mayor
Francis G. Slay, and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley.
Photo by Gentry W. Trotter
Officials say that in the St. Louis urban area, congestion causes
39.9 million hours of travel delay per year, and $675 million
annually in economic costs associated with congestion.
The new bridge will carry Interstate 70 traffic from Illinois
to Missouri, connecting I-70 at the I-55/64/70 interchange on
the Illinois side to I-70 near Cass Avenue on the Missouri side.
