urbanSTL

I think they can keep the original design of the bridge. If they are looking at reducing costs it could be done by eliminating certain aspects like the number of lanes on the bridge. I don't think 4 lanes are needed, especially because I-70 is only three lanes north of the bridge.

Bill includes $240 mln for New Mississippi River Bridge



The massive federal transportation bill includes $240 million earmarked for the proposed $1.3 billion New Mississippi River Bridge, said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) late Thursday.



Costello said he helped secure $150 million toward the bridge in the nearly $290 billion bill under the section for projects of regional or national significance, or mega projects. The other $90 million was secured with the help of U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.).



The House approved the bill Friday morning by 412-8 before its six-week recess.



Costello said the $240 million is short of the legislators' goal of $350 million over six years, the maximum amount of money the Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation could spend over that period.



The House version of the bill earmarked $6 billion for mega-projects, while the Senate bill didn't include any funding for them. The final version of the bill split the $6 million between both the House and the Senate.



Costello said it was a great effort by the bi-state delegation to secure a significant amount of money for the new bridge.



Also included in the bill was a $15 billion highway infrastructure bonds plan sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bonds would add up to $300 million to states for infrastructure projects.







? 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.

I went to the public meeting tonight, just a few things I gathered.



First off, the design that we have all seen is pretty much dead. However, the same cable-stayed concept is still in play(read: no Poplar POS). Most likely it will have a pier in the river now as that would reduce costs.



Also, it looks like to reduce costs the project will be phased. Phase 1 will be to build the new I-70 in Illinois along with the bridge and connection to I-70 in Missouri. The bridge will be the same width as before. The I-64 connector and downtown connection in St. Louis would come later as more money became available. The downside is that the option is still there to complete my hated 14th Street connector.



The gist of it is they are looking to shave the project down to $1 billion before construction starts. The final recommendations by the consultant are due by the start of 2006.

At least they are still going with a cable stayed bridge. I was really worried, because from what I gathered from the spokesperson, it sounded like they were looking at a Poplar Street Bridge design. They could still build the same design, just moving the piers in as mentioned, and substantially reduce the cost.

I'd really like to see exactly what their plans are, with the 70 and 64 connector. Plus the thing along 14th...just to get the entire idea of what they're talking about.



I wish we had the big suspension bridge happening, I think it'd be awesome to see something twice the size of the Alton Bridge.

Trent:

Go to www.newriverbridge.org

Thanks for the link!



Arch - 630 ft

Washington Monument - 555 ft

New Mississippi River Bridge - 510 ft

Statue of Liberty - 305 ft

Clark Bridge - 250 ft



OK - I am convinced, let's build it!

Wait. I'm confused. (No comments please). Is the "new brideg design" going to have the gi-normous pillars with the cable stays? - only with a pier in the middle? That would be fine by me. I just hope we can keep the ginormous cable stays (even if they aren't weight bearing).

I know that site, I was just under the impression that they were downsizing the size due to the lack of funds.

OK, now I am confused. Wasn't that link for the most current design?

I still can't decide if this is a waste of money or not. Yes the Poplar Street Bridge is old, ugly, and becoming more delayed. But a billion dollars for the new bridge? St. Louis can use alot of spending on its transportation infastrcture and that billion could go far in other projects (think light rail, or even just better paving jobs on numerous roads around town). The Cable stay design is fun. And looking around the website, the urban design elements for this project on the missouri side look really cool: brick and concrete retaining walls and some simple but elegant bridges.



But I wonder: if MODOT and IDOT had gotten there plans together and wanted a new bridge over the river, would it have gotten funded if proposed as part of the I-70 rebuilding rather than as two seperate projects. I don't like the conclusion i come too.

The design on the webpage is the one that was selected a couple years ago(out of 6 possible). Right now, URS(the consultant hired) is looking at scaling back the cost of the bridge. This would involve shortening the main span. The guy I talked to said the Coast Guard was throwing a fit over putting a pier in the river since it 'may' affect navigation. If you notice, some of the other six designs had piers in the river. There was a study done and it concluded that one pier could be placed in the river 600 feet from the Missouri side.



>>Six Studied Designs



>>Influences in Bridge Design



Also, the current $1.6 billion price tag includes: new bridge, new I-70, I-64 connector, Poplar interchange rebuild, new Tri-Level interchange, and the IL 3 relocation. I understood that it would take a few more Transportation Bills to get that kind of money, that's why they were considering phasing the project. The idea was that in 2009-10 when the next Transportation Bill is passed they would have the money to start construction on Phase 1.

I really like the last one with the pier. It's just crazy enough to get noticed...a little wacky, but still nice looking. Plus, I love the birdseye view with the look into downtown. Gets me excited.



I hope that they decide on keeping the suspension look in play, and they making this a very unique and noticeable bridge. Imagine the shots for MNF or Cards games with the bridge lit up in the background. I just don't want another PSB.

<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... 7324">Task force aims to speed up new bridge</A>

By Elisa Crouch

Of the Post-Dispatch

08/19/2005



Concerned that 15 years could pass before a new Mississippi River bridge is built, area transportation leaders have formed an 11-member task force to speed up the job.



<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... 6200647324">>>> read more</A>

I have finally decided to post here after lurking for about a year. First off, I want to say how great of a site this is, and how active everyone is. I never knew about this, and I wish I could have seen this before. What a great job everyone has done, and how much information is found here. There are wonderful members too.

m2tbone wrote:That is not true at all. Having grown up in Central Missouri, I know that "rural" Missourians don't hate St. Louis. I'm sure a handful of people may, but for the most part, people outside of the St. Louis metro take many trips into St. Louis, not because they have to, but because they actually want to visit. I, for one, moved here, and constantly have visitors from "outstate" Missouri coming to St. Louis because there's so much to do here. Many of them are big fans of the Metrolink, as well, and want it to be expanded just like us.

A lot of people I know (most of them not from St. Louis) are very proud to have such a great city within a relatively short drive. What I have experienced, however, is that many people have a love for Kansas City over St. Louis, or the other way around. I also do my part in promoting St. Louis as much as I can to keep any negative thoughts out of their minds.

As the highways getting into St. Louis are improved, more "outstate" people will venture into St. Louis. Many of those people are scared of the heavy traffic more than anything else. I have overcome that fear, myself, and now find myself going all over the place in the metro.

Now to what m2tbone said... I too am from O'Fallon, and I have many friends and relatives in central and south Missouri. I have yet to meet a St. Louis hater, from anyone in this country. Some may have some bad things to say about it, but they still love the city. There is something special about this city that makes everyone adore it for it's historical values. I will just say I disagree that the majority of rural Missourians hate St. Louis.



This bridge, along with all the other interstate projects will definently bring in some mid-Missourians, and lots of tourism dollars. I hope this bridge will be built a lot cheaper and quicker than orignally intended. I cannot take the Poplar Street Bridge traffic any longer.

Cornbread, thanks for your insight. It is good to know that outstate Missourians love St. Louis. We need them. &, I like your name.

State can afford share for bridge



It must pay 20 percent of project's cost



BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN



News-Democrat



Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Timothy W. Martin is confident the state will be able to match 20 percent of the $240 million approved by Congress in July for the new Mississippi River Bridge project.



"We'll make that match," Martin said. "That's not a problem. We are confident this is a good plan for the new Mississippi River Bridge."



Under law, state governments must match 20 percent of the total cost of a project funded with federal money. The federal government will pay for up to 80 percent of the project.



Martin traveled to East St. Louis on Tuesday morning to address members of the Illinois Public Transportation Association at the organization's annual meeting, held at the Casino Queen.



Working with Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn on the Mississippi Bridge project has been productive, Martin said.



"We want to complete the project and cut the ribbon," Martin said. "Don't study it and plan it forever. We need to get it done."



The $1.6 billion project is being re-evaluated to reduce the cost.



A task force assigned to monitor the bridge design and try to trim the cost of the project was named in August.



The plans must be redesigned to trim the cost to less than $1 billion. Currently, the project includes:



? The building of an eight-lane bridge between Martin Luther King and McKinley bridges;



? Reconstruction of a tri-level interchange in East St. Louis;



? Relocation of both Illinois 3 and Interstate 70.



The project re-evaluation is expected to be complete next year with construction on the new bridge possibly beginning within a year and a half.



"It's a lot more expensive than what people had originally anticipated," Martin said. "It's a beautiful bridge, and it would be one of the top five bridges in the nation when completed, but I'm not sure we can afford that."



Link to Article

Posted on Sat, Oct. 01, 2005

<A HREF="http://www.belleville.com/mld/bellevill ... .htm">Task force makes little progress on bridge</A>



Kern, IDOT official debate merits of southern route



BY LISA P. WHITE

News-Democrat



BELLEVILLE - A task force seeking ways to cut the projected $1.6 billion cost of a new Mississippi River bridge made little headway during a meeting Friday as state transportation department officials and civic leaders clashed over the location, financing and scope of the project.



In the end, they agreed only to look at various ways to pay for the bridge and to negotiate an agreement on building a connector between Interstate 64 and the new bridge.



<A HREF="http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/12790921.htm">>>> read more</A>

Things sound like they are pretty much a mess. I understand this Kern guy is doing what he feels is best for his district, but the bridge would make more sense up north. There are more communities that would be affected in a positive way by a northern bridge.

It angers me too that Missouri doesn't seem to concerned with this bridge. It's got support in the city, but most people don't even concern themselves with these issues. They seem more worried about continuing the Page Extension and other useless sprawl additions.

I'm a bit behind on the bridge news--is it still cutting a swath of ONSL to pieces?