The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has picked a contractor to work on the Chester Bridge Replacement Project. The Ames Team, comprised of Ames Construction, Inc. and Parsons Transportation Group, will be the design-build contractor to replace the structure that spans the Mississippi River.
According to MoDOT, the structure built in 1942 is used by approximately 7,000 vehicles daily. It connects the cities of Perryville, Missouri, and Chester, Illinois, via Route 51.
The structure is considered in poor condition, however it is safe for travel. MoDOT approved an amendment on Sept. 9, 2021, to fund the Chester Bridge Replacement Project.
“This major river bridge is vital to agricultural traffic, area industries and travelers,” said MoDOT Project Director Brian Okenfuss. “While the current bridge is safe, it is in poor condition. The new Chester Bridge will reduce the number of flood-related closures and better serve today’s traffic.”
The plan is for the Ames Team to construct the bridge upstream from the existing structure, making it twice as wide. No long-term lane closures are anticipated by MoDOT and traffic will continue as construction is completed.
According to the press release, the new structure's completion date is the end of 2026, and has a price tag of $284 million.
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Source: MoDOT
