:Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge

{{wide image|Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge 20130721-pano2.jpg|400px|Spanning the river, still under construction, in July 2013|100%|right|alt=Panorama the unfinished bridge spanning the river with all cable stays in place.}}

The main span of the bridge is {{convert|1500|ft|m}} in length, part of a total span of {{convert|2803|ft}}.{{cite web|author = Weeks III, John A. |title = New Mississippi River Bridge |url = http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pagesC/umissC16.html |publisher = John A. Weeks III |year = 2009 |access-date = March 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100817080902/http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pagesC/umissC16.html |archive-date = August 17, 2010 |url-status = live}} It is {{convert|86|ft|m}} wide. Cables stretch from the bridge deck to the tops of two A-shaped towers, which reach {{convert|435|ft|m}} above I-70. The new bridge's main span is supported by {{convert|1000|mi|km}} of {{convert|0.6|in|cm|adj=mid|-diameter}} stay-cable strand, enough for nearly two round trips from St. Louis to Chicago. Nearly 15,000 tons of structural steel are used, along with 8,600 tons of reinforcing steel. Some {{convert|90600|yd3}} of concrete are in the foundation, deck slab, and towers.{{cite web|author = Coates, Chris |title = New Mississippi River Bridge takes shape |url = http://edwardsvillejournal.stltoday.com1./articles/2008/09/11/news/sj2tn20080910-0910cvj-riverbridge.ii1.txt |publisher = Edwardsville Journal |date = September 10, 2008 |access-date = March 14, 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At its completion, the bridge was the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the United States.{{cite web |last = Coburn |first = Davin |title = One World Trade Center... and 9 More Feats of Mega-Engineering Read more: One World Trade Center... and 9 More Feats of Mega-Engineering |date = September 11, 2012 |url = http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/engineering/architecture/one-world-trade-center-and-9-more-feats-of-mega-engineering?click=main_sr#slide-3 |publisher = Popular Mechanics |access-date = September 14, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121204233518/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/engineering/architecture/one-world-trade-center-and-9-more-feats-of-mega-engineering?click=main_sr#slide-3 |archive-date = December 4, 2012 |url-status = live }}

The bridge was built to relieve traffic on nearby bridges, and to expand with traffic in the future. It carries four mainline traffic lanes, half as many as originally planned, with room to add a lane in each direction. It is designed so that a companion bridge could be built beside it.{{cite news |url = http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/story/608F0105E48550D9862573FC00166A0B?OpenDocument |title = Illinois is set to start bridge |last = Crouch |first = Elisa |publisher = St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date = February 27, 2008 |access-date = February 28, 2008 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20080326150735/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/story/608F0105E48550D9862573FC00166A0B?OpenDocument |url-status = dead |archive-date = March 26, 2008 }} Initially, the new bridge was intended to reduce traffic by 20% on the Poplar Street Bridge, which carries I-55, I-64, and US 40 (also the former route of I-70); and 50% on the Martin Luther King Bridge.

After three months of use, it was estimated that 31,000 cars and trucks cross the bridge every day, about 10,000 less than the expected 40,000. Traffic volume on the nearby McKinley Bridge has not changed. The MLK Bridge traffic is down 44%. The Eads Bridge is down 3,000 cars per day, a 27% decrease compared to 2013. The Poplar Street Bridge, the busiest in the area, has had volume reduced by 20,000 cars per day, a 19% decrease.{{cite web |url = http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/traffic/2014/05/13/st-louis-traffic-congestion-numbers-stan-musial-veterans-memorial-bridge/9030635 |title = New bridge eases traffic congestion in St. Louis |publisher = KSDK |date = May 13, 2014 }} After 3{{frac|1|2}} years of use of the new Stan Musial-Veterans Memorial Bridge, the daily traffic has increased to 53,700 per day, over 13,000 more than the expected 40,000.

At the bridge's opening, I-70 was re-routed, diverging from the current I-70 at Cass Avenue to connect with I-55/I-64/I-70 in East St. Louis. The remaining stretch of I-70 through downtown St. Louis became an extension of I-44.{{cite web |url = http://www.newriverbridge.org/documents/NMRBRe-Evaluation%203.pdf |title = Archived copy |access-date = January 16, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110101083158/http://newriverbridge.org/documents/NMRBRe-Evaluation%203.pdf |archive-date = January 1, 2011 }} After these realignments, the Poplar Street Bridge continues to carry traffic for I-55, I-64 and US 40.

The cost of the original design of the bridge and surrounding area was estimated at nearly $1.7 billion. After both state governments decided that they could not bear that cost, they called for a new design; this proposed a smaller size and was submitted in 2007 with an estimated cost of $667 million.{{cite web |title = New Mississippi River Bridge Project |url = http://www.newriverbridge.org/ |access-date = March 18, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090318164213/http://www.newriverbridge.org/ |archive-date = March 18, 2009 |url-status = live }} Of the total, $264 million will go to move I-70 in Illinois, $57 million to move I-70 in Missouri, and $346 million to build the bridge. The Illinois state government plans to spend $313 million; Missouri, $115 million. A federal grant will cover the other $239 million. The final cost was $695 million.{{cite web |url = http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/new-mississippi-river-bridge-touted-as-a-traffic-reliever/article_110b6c60-6dd4-5760-ad31-3ba2f22107d5.html |title = New Mississippi River bridge touted as a traffic reliever |website = St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date = February 8, 2014 |access-date = February 8, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140824190825/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/new-mississippi-river-bridge-touted-as-a-traffic-reliever/article_110b6c60-6dd4-5760-ad31-3ba2f22107d5.html |archive-date = August 24, 2014 |url-status = live }}

The funding of the bridge project was debated by the Illinois and Missouri governments. After receiving the federal grant, Illinois pushed to start as soon as possible, but Missouri said it had more pressing highway projects to work on. Missouri transportation officials proposed to privatize the bridge, which would have allowed a private company to charge tolls in return for building, operating and maintaining it for up to 99 years. But Illinois officials and several St. Louis congressman demanded a toll-free crossing, and this was ratified by an agreement signed February 28, 2008, by Missouri governor Matt Blunt and Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.{{cite web |author = Crouch, Elisa |title = States reach bridge deal |url = http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/commutingtraffic/story/966887B5A7576DF3862573FB0013930A?OpenDocument |publisher = St. Louis Post Dispatch |date = February 26, 2008 |access-date = March 15, 2009 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20080326145917/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/commutingtraffic/story/966887B5A7576DF3862573FB0013930A?OpenDocument |url-status = dead |archive-date = March 26, 2008 }}

The cost of building the main span was initially estimated at $190 million. This proved low; a $229.5 million contract was awarded on December 30, 2009, to a joint venture of Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, Traylor Bros. Inc. of Indiana and St. Louis-based Alberici Corp. (The team beat out the $274.9 million bid by a joint venture of American Bridge Co. and Dragados USA.){{cite news |url = http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/12/28/daily29.html |first = Kelsey |last = Volkmann |title = Alberici, Massman, Traylor win $229M Mississippi River Bridge project |date = December 30, 2009 }}

MoDOT agreed to cover any cost overruns. This has prompted speculation{{By whom|date=January 2013}} that the project might be scaled back.{{update-inline|date=December 2023}}

File:NMRB construction 07252011 retouched.jpg

Subsurface exploration by engineering firm Modjeski and Masters showed thick deposits of low-density sand below the water table.{{cite web |title = Proposed Mississippi River Bridge |url = http://www.hansonengineers.com/insight/0502/story1.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181029030853/http://www.hansonengineers.com/insight/0502/story1.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 29, 2018 |year = 2004 |access-date = March 12, 2009 }} Such loose sand might liquefy during an earthquake. Several ways to reduce the risk were considered, including in-situ densification of the sands, but ultimately the foundations were changed to feature {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}}, {{convert|120|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} drilled piers founded in the limestone bedrock to support the bridge superstructure. The bedrock is {{convert|120|ft|m}} below the surface on the Illinois side and between 30 and {{convert|60|ft|m}} on the Missouri side.

In 2003, land intended to be used for the bridge was sold by the City of St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority to a private developer for $2. In early 2008, MoDOT warned the developer not to build on it, but the developer completed the construction of 400 storage units. MoDOT offered a $1.7 million buyout, which the developer turned down. The property was condemned, and a circuit court ordered MoDOT to give the developer $2.3 million in compensation. MoDOT is contesting this amount.{{cite news |url = http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/F0D3CAF52BAC761886257652001B7E8A?OpenDocument |title = MoDOT spending $2.3 million to get bridge right-of-way that city sold for $2 |publisher = Stltoday.com |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091223023251/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/F0D3CAF52BAC761886257652001B7E8A?OpenDocument |archive-date = December 23, 2009 }}{{update-inline|date=December 2023}}

In August 2011, community leaders in East St. Louis, which suffers high unemployment, lodged complaints with the Illinois Department of Transportation that the bridge labor force included too few minority workers. Federal law requires that the labor force on any public works project that is fully or partially funded by federal dollars must be composed of at least 14.6% members of a recognized minority group. The project meets these requirements, according to contractor records; the activists argued that the labor force was not representative of those living in the region.[http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-20110815,0,4086543.story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006081412/http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-20110815%2C0%2C4086543.story|date=October 6, 2011}}[http://www.kplr11.com/news/ktvi-protester-mississippi-river-bridge-080511,0,3329944.story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007070212/http://www.kplr11.com/news/ktvi-protester-mississippi-river-bridge-080511%2C0%2C3329944.story|date=October 7, 2011}} A protest and work stoppage on the Illinois portion of the bridge was threatened, but work on the bridge continued.

Riley Illinois, a firm that is supplying concrete for the project, was de-listed as a minority-owned business when Illinois officials discovered that only one of the four owners of the firm was a minority. Though the company continued its contract to provide concrete for the bridge, it no longer counted as a minority-owned firm.{{cite web |url = http://fox2now.com/2012/05/28/fox-files-mississippi-river-bridge-contractor-controversy/ |title = FOX Files: Mississippi River Bridge Contractor Controversy |publisher = FOX2now.com |date = May 28, 2012 |access-date = June 18, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140831033956/http://fox2now.com/2012/05/28/fox-files-mississippi-river-bridge-contractor-controversy/ |archive-date = August 31, 2014 |url-status = live }}

At 10:30 a.m. on March 28, 2012, carpenter Andy Gammon plunged to his death in the river when a barge-mounted lift toppled and a rescue effort failed. Gammon was working on pilings from a boom lift that was placed on a secured barge. The mobile piece of equipment was not secured to the barge and tipped over into the water, taking him in the boom with it. Gammon's body was found attached to the lift. OSHA cited the three general contractors and the subcontractor for three violations totalling $15,300.{{cite web |url = http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/312777/3/Recovery-effort-underway-for-man-at-Mississippi-River-Bridge-project |title = Andy Gammon falls off new Mississippi River bridge project |publisher = ksdk.com |date = March 29, 2012 |access-date = June 18, 2013 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120907202808/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/312777/3/Recovery-effort-underway-for-man-at-Mississippi-River-Bridge-project |archive-date = September 7, 2012 |url-status = live }} The stretch of I-70 from the bridge to I-44 is designated the Andy Gammon Memorial Highway.

In August 2004, William Perkins and Russ Reike, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, gave Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) petitions with over 4,000 signatures supporting the naming of the new bridge "Veterans Memorial Bridge".{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} There is a Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Missouri River. The Martin Luther King Bridge was originally called "Veterans Memorial Bridge" until it was renamed in 1968 following the assassination of the national civil rights leader.{{cite web |url = http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pagesC/umissC05.html |title = Martin Luther King Bridge, MLK Bridge Mississippi River Crossing At Saint Louis |publisher = Johnweeks.com |date = |access-date = July 22, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121011162724/http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pagesC/umissC05.html |archive-date = October 11, 2012 |url-status = live }} The naming proposal was supported by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. When the bridge was delayed by Missouri's postponement of funding, the petitions expired. Perkins and Reiki, joined by fellow VFW member Dave Stout, collected signatures again and in 2009 tuned over to Rep. Costello petitions with more than 13,000 names.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}

On August 28, 2005, the Missouri State Legislature voted to name the bridge after President Ronald Reagan.{{cite web |url = http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pagesC/umissC16.html |title = Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Bridge, Saint Louis, MO |publisher = Johnweeks.com |date = |access-date = March 20, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713115713/http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pagesC/umissC16.html |archive-date = July 13, 2011 |url-status = live }}

In March 2011, the Missouri House of Representatives approved a proposal to change the name to "Jerry F. Costello–William Lacy 'Bill' Clay Sr. Veterans Memorial Bridge", for two prominent state politicians.{{cite web |url = http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/article_5b86743a-797b-5fa3-93d1-edc26e5f94af.html |title = New Mississippi bridge may be better left nameless |publisher = Stltoday.com |access-date = March 20, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110321073349/http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/article_5b86743a-797b-5fa3-93d1-edc26e5f94af.html |archive-date = March 21, 2011 |url-status = live }} One month later, the Missouri Senate Transportation Committee rejected the change.

Some groups pushed for "Women Veterans Memorial Bridge".{{cite web |first = REBECCA |last = BERG |url = http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_b7d90e0e-a3c5-5331-8be3-6bc72addaad9.html |title = Big tiff develops over bridge name |publisher = Stltoday.com |date = April 14, 2011 |access-date = June 18, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140825023819/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_b7d90e0e-a3c5-5331-8be3-6bc72addaad9.html |archive-date = August 25, 2014 |url-status = live }}

On January 22, 2013, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale, Missouri) introduced a bill to name the bridge after Stan Musial, the former St. Louis Cardinals baseball player who had recently died. The measure required the approval of both houses of both the Illinois and Missouri legislatures.{{cite web |url = http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/new-mississippi-river-bridge-could-be-named-for-musial/article_9005a970-8921-531e-b3ac-a9b4d9e0f83c.html |title = New Mississippi River bridge could be named for Musial |date = January 23, 2013 |access-date = January 23, 2013 |publisher = St. Louis Post Dispatch |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140823032233/http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/new-mississippi-river-bridge-could-be-named-for-musial/article_9005a970-8921-531e-b3ac-a9b4d9e0f83c.html |archive-date = August 23, 2014 |url-status = live }} The measure received the first of two necessary approvals from the Missouri Senate on February 20, 2013. An amendment to the Musial bill, sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine (R-Farmington, Missouri), named the Missouri approach to the bridge the Andy Gammon Memorial Highway in honor of the bridge worker who died.{{cite web |last = Crisp |first = Elizabeth |url = http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elizabeth-crisp/missouri-senate-gives-first-ok-to-naming-new-mississippi-river/article_fcc0bc80-7f07-5cc3-b134-96762617932f.html |title = Missouri Senate gives first OK to naming new Mississippi River bridge for Musial |publisher = Stltoday.com |date = February 20, 2013 |access-date = June 18, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140823032159/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elizabeth-crisp/missouri-senate-gives-first-ok-to-naming-new-mississippi-river/article_fcc0bc80-7f07-5cc3-b134-96762617932f.html |archive-date = August 23, 2014 |url-status = live }}

The two state legislatures agreed; the bridge was officially named the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, with the signature of President Barack Obama on July 12, 2013.{{cite web |url = http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/stan-span-gets-obama-approval/article_4648d990-3f02-5597-a62b-4dc5a0673ff5.html |title = 'Stan Span' gets Obama approval |website = St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date = July 12, 2013 |access-date = July 13, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181127081646/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/stan-span-gets-obama-approval/article_4648d990-3f02-5597-a62b-4dc5a0673ff5.html |archive-date = November 27, 2018 |url-status = live }}{{USPL|113|18}}

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{{Panorama

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