 The two governors announced that construction of the new
cable-stayed bridge, which will not require a toll, could begin as
soon as 2010. The new span and connecting roadways will cost $640
million and will be paid for through a combination of federal and
state funding. The project will be jointly managed by the Illinois
Department of Transportation and the Missouri Department of
Transportation. It is expected to take four to six years to
complete."We are here today to announce an historic agreement
that will improve the quality of life and create jobs for residents
on both sides of the Mississippi River," said Blagojevich. "This new
bridge will reduce congestion and make it easier for Illinoisans to
get back and forth across the river, whether it's for work, going to
a Cardinals game or any other reason. And, perhaps most importantly
-- we are not building a toll bridge. I applaud Governor Blunt and
his administration for working with us to make this project a
reality."
"My office has been working with our federal, state and local
leaders and the state of Illinois to reach this important agreement
for transportation infrastructure in the St. Louis region," Blunt
said. "Both states benefit from a strong and growing economy in the
St. Louis area, and this agreement will help make Missouri's economy
even stronger. A new Mississippi River bridge will help to sustain
economic growth and development in the region, enhance the safety of
our citizens, increase productivity for workers and families, while
protecting our environment by reducing congestion."
"Today we are moving forward with a plan that will reduce the
traffic congestion and travel delays that are faced by everyone who
regularly crosses the Mississippi River," said Rep. Hoffman,
D-Collinsville. "It will not be a toll bridge, and Illinois is
making a substantial financial commitment to the bridge. However, to
fully fund this project, the Illinois General Assembly will still
have to pass a capital bill that will include $49 million for the
New Mississippi River Bridge."
"This has been a long process," said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello,
D-Illinois. "I am pleased that the two states have reached an
agreement to build the new bridge."
"IDOT is pleased that we were able to work out an agreement with
our counterpart agency from Missouri that paves the way for an
affordable new bridge on which we could begin construction within
two years," said IDOT Secretary Milton R. Sees. "The new span will
meet our goals of reducing congestion and traffic crashes while
boosting the economy in the Metro East area -- and it will
accomplish this without a toll."
Blagojevich made the announcement just more than a week after he
proposed a budget plan for fiscal 2009 that includes Illinois Works
-- a comprehensive building plan to improve aging roads, bridges and
mass transit, as well as university and school buildings in
communities throughout the state. Illinois Works includes $49
million for the new bridge project. This funding is contingent on
passage of the capital funding plan by the Illinois General
Assembly.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Blagojevich is urging members of the General Assembly to approve
Illinois Works to rebuild vital infrastructure and also stimulate
the economy. Illinois Works is expected to support 725,000 new jobs
statewide.
The total estimated
project cost of $640 million includes $306 million for the bridge
and approaches, $264 million for new roadway connections in
Illinois, and $70 million for new roadway connections in Missouri.
Federal funding will cover $239 million of the cost; Illinois will
contribute $313 million, including $49 million from a capital bill;
and Missouri will contribute $88 million in state funds.
The agreement between the two states will allow for
construction of one bridge in the location originally approved by
Federal Highway Administration in 2001 for two, four-lane bridges, a
mile north of the Martin Luther King Bridge in St. Louis. The two
states agreed to scale back the original plan and consider other
options in 2004 after the estimated cost escalated to over $1
billion.
The state of Missouri had pushed to finance the new bridge by
charging tolls. But this proposal was adamantly opposed by
Blagojevich, Hoffman, the Illinois Department of Transportation and
other Illinois leaders because the tolls would have
disproportionately affected Illinois residents heading to jobs on
the Missouri side of the river.
Blagojevich offered a compromise proposal in 2006 of a four-lane
addition to the existing Martin Luther King bridge, called the
"coupler" option, that could have been financed without tolls.
However, in April 2007 the Missouri Department of Transportation
agreed to abandon the toll bridge proposal and to enter negotiations
with the Illinois Department of Transportation to build an
affordable bridge at the site originally approved for the New
Mississippi River Bridge.
Under the new agreement, a single bridge will be constructed
initially and will have design accommodations for a companion bridge
to be built in the future. The new span, with a design life of 100
years, will carry two lanes in each direction with room to expand to
three lanes.
The new bridge will connect Interstate 70 at the I-55-64-70
interchange in East St. Louis to I-70 near Cass Avenue on the
Missouri side. The connection from I-55-70-64 will include
a roadway connection in Illinois along the I-64 connector alignment
to the new bridge. A partial interchange in Missouri will be
constructed with existing I-70 near Cass Avenue.
The New Mississippi River Bridge is expected to initially carry a
traffic volume of about 40,000 vehicles per day and up to 55,000
vehicles per day by 2030. It will provide significant congestion
relief for the Polar Street Bridge, which now carries I-55, I-64 and
I-70 and handles roughly 115,000 to 125,000 vehicles daily.
For more information about the project, go to
http://www.newriverbridge.org/.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
